Edson (provincial electoral district)
# Edson (provincial electoral district)

Edson was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1986.

## History

The electoral district was created during the 1913 Alberta general election from all of Lac Ste. Anne and the western portions of the Innsifail, Olds, Stony Plain and Red Deer provincial electoral districts.

Despite numerous boundary revisions in the province, Edson kept most of its original area. The riding was abolished into the new West Yellowhead riding in 1986.

### Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Edson :

| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | 1913–1917 | Charles Wilson Cross | Liberal |
| 4th | 1917–1921 | Charles Wilson Cross | Liberal |
| 5th | 1921–1926 | Charles Wilson Cross | Liberal |
| 6th | 1926–1930 | Christopher Pattinson | Dominion Labor |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | Christopher Pattinson | Dominion Labor |
| 8th | 1935–1940 | Joseph Unwin | United Farmers |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | Angus James Morrison | Dominion Labor |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | Norman Willmore | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | Norman Willmore | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | Norman Willmore | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Norman Willmore | Social Credit |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | Norman Willmore | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | Norman Willmore | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | William Switzer | Liberal |
| 17th | 1971–1975 | Robert Wagner Dowling | Progressive Conservative |
| 18th | 1975–1979 | Robert Wagner Dowling | Progressive Conservative |
| 19th | 1979–1982 | Ian Reid | Progressive Conservative |
| 20th | 1982–1986 | Ian Reid | Progressive Conservative |
| See West Yellowhead electoral district from 1986-Present |||||

## Election results

### 1913 Alberta general election

1913 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Charles Wilson Cross | 671 | 51.03% | – |
| | Conservative | H. H. Verge | 644 | 48.97% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,315 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1917 Alberta general election

1917 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Charles Wilson Cross | 1,116 | 62.91% | 11.88% |
| | Conservative | J. R. McIntosh | 455 | 25.65% | -23.32% |
| | Socialist | John Reid | 203 | 11.44% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,774 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -5.72% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1921 Alberta general election

1921 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Charles Wilson Cross | 1,321 | 57.94% | -4.97% |
| | Dominion Labor | John Diamond | 959 | 42.06% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,280 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -10.44% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1926 Alberta general election

1926 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| First count ||||||
| | Dominion Labor | Christopher Pattinson | 1,116 | 40.13% | -1.93% |
| | Conservative | A. McIntyre | 963 | 34.63% | – |
| | Liberal | F. J. Doyle | 702 | 25.24% | -32.70% |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,781 | – | – |
| Ballot transfer results ||||||
| | Dominion Labor | Christopher Pattinson | 1,219 | 51.70% | – |
| | Conservative | A. McIntyre | 1,139 | 48.30% | – |
| | Liberal | F. J. Doyle | Eliminated | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,358 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 5 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,765 | 58.47% | – |
| | Dominion Labor gain from Liberal | Dominion Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | -5.67% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1930 Alberta general election

1930 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Dominion Labor | Christopher Pattinson | 2,434 | 75.80% | 35.73% |
| | Liberal | Chas. E. Payne | 777 | 24.20% | -1.04% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,211 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 139 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 5,455 | 61.41% | – |
| | Dominion Labor hold | Dominion Labor hold | Swing | Swing | 23.53% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1935 Alberta general election

1935 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| First count ||||||
| | Social Credit | Joseph Unwin | 2,154 | 41.52% | – |
| | Liberal | John Sedgwick Cowper | 1,620 | 31.23% | 7.03% |
| | Dominion Labor | Christopher Pattinson | 1,414 | 27.26% | -48.54% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,188 | – | – |
| Ballot transfer results ||||||
| | Social Credit | Joseph Unwin | 2,443 | 54.16% | – |
| | Liberal | John Sedgwick Cowper | 2,068 | 45.84% | – |
| | Dominion Labor | Christopher Pattinson | Eliminated | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,511 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 279 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,192 | 76.02% | – |
| | Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor | Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor | Swing | Swing | -25.80% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1940 Alberta general election

1940 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| First count ||||||
| | Dominion Labor | Angus James Morrison | 2,211 | 44.59% | 17.33% |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Unwin | 1,949 | 39.31% | -2.31% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | W. L. Dickout | 798 | 16.10% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,958 | – | – |
| Ballot transfer results ||||||
| | Dominion Labor | Angus James Morrison | 2,558 | 54.92% | – |
| | Social Credit | Joseph Unwin | 2,100 | 45.08% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | W. L. Dickout | Eliminated | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,658 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 298 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,228 | 71.78% | – |
| | Dominion Labor gain from Social Credit | Dominion Labor gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | 0.00% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1944 Alberta general election

1944 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Norman Willmore | 2,536 | 57.60% | 18.29% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | W. H. Dixon | 1,280 | 29.07% | 12.97% |
| | Labor–Progressive | George Brownlow | 587 | 13.33% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,403 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 111 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,747 | 66.90% | – |
| | Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor | Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor | Swing | Swing | 14.26% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1948 Alberta general election

1948 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Norman Willmore | 2,543 | 50.58% | -7.02% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Christopher Pattinson | 1,715 | 34.11% | 5.04% |
| | Liberal | William E. Robinson | 770 | 15.31% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,028 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 428 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,337 | 65.44% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -6.03% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1952 Alberta general election

1952 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Norman Willmore | 2,480 | 55.79% | 5.22% |
| | Liberal | William Switzer | 1,965 | 44.21% | 28.89% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,445 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 335 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,862 | 60.80% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -2.44% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1955 Alberta general election

1955 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Norman Willmore | 2,529 | 51.96% | -3.83% |
| | Liberal | William Switzer | 2,146 | 44.09% | -0.11% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Booker | 192 | 3.94% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,867 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 445 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,515 | 70.69% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -1.86% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1959 Alberta general election

1959 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Norman Willmore | 3,074 | 57.07% | 5.11% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Chris. H. R. Nielsen | 1,678 | 31.15% | – |
| | Liberal | Melvyn A. Parkyn | 634 | 11.77% | -32.32% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,386 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 22 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,835 | 61.21% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 9.02% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1963 Alberta general election

1963 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Social Credit | Norman Willmore | 2,668 | 56.29% | -0.79% |
| | Liberal | Bertram E. Schoeppe | 1,371 | 28.92% | 17.15% |
| | New Democratic | James D. Torgersen | 701 | 14.79% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,740 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 11 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,647 | 54.94% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 0.72% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1967 Alberta general election

1967 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | William Switzer | 2,803 | 41.03% | 12.11% |
| | Social Credit | Arthur O. Jorgensen | 2,372 | 34.72% | -21.56% |
| | New Democratic | Neil Reimer | 1,656 | 24.24% | 9.45% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,831 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 27 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 9,457 | 72.52% | – |
| | Liberal gain from Social Credit | Liberal gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | -10.53% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1971 Alberta general election

1971 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Wagner Dowling | 3,900 | 59.13% | – |
| | Social Credit | Rollie Mohr | 1,947 | 29.52% | -5.21% |
| | New Democratic | Walter Seewitz | 749 | 11.36% | -12.89% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,596 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 217 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 10,058 | 67.74% | – |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | 11.65% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1975 Alberta general election

1975 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Robert Wagner Dowling | 3,872 | 65.09% | 5.96% |
| | New Democratic | John Lindsay | 1,426 | 23.97% | 12.62% |
| | Social Credit | Ralph Bond | 651 | 10.94% | -18.57% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,949 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 12 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 10,506 | 56.74% | – |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | 5.75% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1979 Alberta general election

1979 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ian Reid | 4,517 | 53.70% | -11.38% |
| | New Democratic | Ron Hodgins | 2,958 | 35.17% | 11.20% |
| | Social Credit | W.L. Land | 676 | 8.04% | -2.91% |
| | Liberal | Herbert Maris | 260 | 3.09% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 8,411 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 13,855 | 60.71% | – |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -11.29% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1979 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1982 Alberta general election

1982 Alberta general election :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ian Reid | 6,003 | 57.07% | 3.36% |
| | New Democratic | Eilir Thomas | 3,232 | 30.73% | -4.44% |
| | Western Canada Concept | Lynn Lewis | 1,284 | 12.21% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,519 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 35 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 16,208 | 65.12% | – |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | 3.90% |
| Source(s) Source: "Edson Official Results 1982 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

## Plebiscite results

### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Edson :

| Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote? ||||
| - | - | - | - |
| Ballot choice | Ballot choice | Votes | % |
| | Yes | 2,222 | 82.08% |
| | No | 485 | 17.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,707 | 100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 14 | 14 |
| 7,823 eligible electors, turnout 34.82% ||||

On October 30, 1957 a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the Legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with the growing demand for reforming antiquated liquor control laws.

The plebiscite was conducted in two parts. Question A, asked in all districts, asked the voters if the sale of liquor should be expanded in Alberta, while Question B, asked in a handful of districts within the corporate limits of Calgary and Edmonton, asked if men and women should be allowed to drink together in establishments.

Province wide, Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts, while Question B passed in all five districts. Edson voted in favour of the proposal, with the largest percentage in the province. Voter turnout in the district was dismal, falling significantly below the province wide average of 46%.

Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957. The Social Credit government in power at the time did not consider the results binding. However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.

Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the plebiscite were designated Local Option Zones by the Alberta Liquor Control Board and considered effective dry zones. Business owners who wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.

