Fred J. White
Encyclopedia
Frederic "Fred" James White (September 1886-October 10, 1967) was a provincial level politician and labour activist in Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1921 to 1935 holding a seat in the electoral district of Calgary
.
, Ontario
until 1898. He moved to Guelph
with his family and got his first job at the age of 15 working at the Guelph Mercury
.
In 1905, he went to work for the Harley Watkins Printing Co. in Brantford
as a printer. In 1907 he decided to travel, visiting Montreal and the United Kingdom
. In 1910, White decided to travel to western Canada. He found work as a printer in Calgary.
. He won the third seat in the electoral district running under the Dominion Labor banner in the Calgary electoral district taking 8.21% of the popular vote. White continued to hold his seat on Calgary city council.
White became leader of the Dominion Labor party and led the group into the 1926 Alberta general election
. He was elected on the tenth vote count taking fifth place in the polling. Overall in the province 5 out of 12 Dominion Labor Party candidates were elected to the Legislature. He continued on as leader and led the party into the 1930 Alberta general election
. The Dominion Labor party lost a seat, White was re-elected in fourth place in the Calgary district on the 7th count.
In 1932 White was a delegate to the founding meeting of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
. He became a founding member of the party when it was established in 1933.
Despite being part of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the Dominion Labor Party ran in the 1935 Alberta general election
. White continued on as leader. He was defeated on the 12 count, finishing 11th place in the standings. Province-wide, Dominion Labor was wiped out, losing all seats.
White ran as a candidate for the CCF in the 1940 Alberta general election
. He did not regain his seat, finishing 8th in the standings.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1921 to 1935 holding a seat in the electoral district of Calgary
Calgary (provincial electoral district)
Calgary was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada that existed from 1905 to 1913 and was recreated from 1921 to 1959. The district returned from one to six members to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
.
Early life
Frederick James White was born in September 1886, at Port Credit, Ontario. He resided in HamiltonHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
until 1898. He moved to Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
with his family and got his first job at the age of 15 working at the Guelph Mercury
Guelph Mercury
The Guelph Mercury is an English language newspaper published in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It publishes a mix of community, national and international news and is owned by the Torstar Corporation. The newspaper, in many incarnations, has been a part of the community since 1854...
.
In 1905, he went to work for the Harley Watkins Printing Co. in Brantford
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
as a printer. In 1907 he decided to travel, visiting Montreal and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1910, White decided to travel to western Canada. He found work as a printer in Calgary.
Municipal political career
White became involved in the Calgary Labor movement. He decided in 1918 to run for municipal council and elected to serve his stint in office from January 2, 1919 to January 3, 1927. He returned to city council January 29, 1929 to December 31, 1935. His third stint on council was from January 1, 1940 to September 30, 1941.Provincial political career
White ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1921 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
. He won the third seat in the electoral district running under the Dominion Labor banner in the Calgary electoral district taking 8.21% of the popular vote. White continued to hold his seat on Calgary city council.
White became leader of the Dominion Labor party and led the group into the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
. He was elected on the tenth vote count taking fifth place in the polling. Overall in the province 5 out of 12 Dominion Labor Party candidates were elected to the Legislature. He continued on as leader and led the party into the 1930 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. The Dominion Labor party lost a seat, White was re-elected in fourth place in the Calgary district on the 7th count.
In 1932 White was a delegate to the founding meeting of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
. He became a founding member of the party when it was established in 1933.
Despite being part of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the Dominion Labor Party ran in the 1935 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. White continued on as leader. He was defeated on the 12 count, finishing 11th place in the standings. Province-wide, Dominion Labor was wiped out, losing all seats.
White ran as a candidate for the CCF in the 1940 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1940
The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He did not regain his seat, finishing 8th in the standings.