Hugh Calder
Encyclopedia
Hugh Alfred Calder was a real estate developer and politician in Alberta
, Canada
. He served as an alderman on Edmonton City Council
between 1912 and 1916 and was a principle founder of Calder.
, Nova Scotia
in 1873, and grew up there before moving to Labrador
, where he started its first lumber company. In 1902, he moved to Edmonton, where he spent five years scouting suitable timber for ties
for the Grand Trunk Railway
. In 1907 he co-founded Foster and Calder, one of the city's first real estate firms, which developed much of what is now the Calder neighbourhood, which was later named in Calder's honour. He also, as a member of the United Church of Canada
, helped construct the first building to house the Knox United Church.
, when he ran to fill one of ten aldermanic seats available on Edmonton City Council
. He finished eleventh of eighteen, but the terms of the just-effected merger between Edmonton and Strathcona
stipulated that at least three of the aldermen come from the south side of the North Saskatchewan River
. Only two of the top ten (John Tipton
and Thomas J. Walsh
) were, so Calder was elected to the third spot instead of the tenth place D. B. Campbell. Because of the amalgamation, an entire new council was being elected (Edmonton's councils were normally elected five members at a time for two year terms) and the five councillors with the fewest votes were only elected to one year terms, meaning that Calder had to seek re-election in December of that year
. He finished eighth of seventeen candidates; only five councillors were to be elected, but Calder benefited again from the provision requiring south side representation; since none of the candidates to finish ahead of him were from the south side, Calder was re-elected.
He was up for re-election again in the 1914 election
, in which there were six, rather than five, seat available due to the resignation of Alexander Campbell. Calder finished sixth, good enough to win Campbell's seat and serve the remaining year in his term; however, Calder was instead elected to a two year term as the top finishing south side candidate. He did not seek re-election at the conclusion of this term.
as a Major
in the 19th Alberta Dragoons
, where he commanded a Canadian Forestry Battalion. Upon his return, he retired to his farm in south Edmonton. He died in Vancouver
August 6, 1964, survived by three daughters and one son.
Hugh Calder was involved in Edmonton Exhibition Board and the Masonic Lodge
.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
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 an alderman on Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
between 1912 and 1916 and was a principle founder of Calder.
Early life
Calder was born in BridgewaterBridgewater, Nova Scotia
Bridgewater is a town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the navigable limit of the LaHave River. It is the largest town in the South Shore region. While the majority of the South Shore's economy is based upon the tourist trade, Bridgewater is more a commercial and industrial centre and...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1873, and grew up there before moving to Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, where he started its first lumber company. In 1902, he moved to Edmonton, where he spent five years scouting suitable timber for ties
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
for the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
. In 1907 he co-founded Foster and Calder, one of the city's first real estate firms, which developed much of what is now the Calder neighbourhood, which was later named in Calder's honour. He also, as a member of the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, helped construct the first building to house the Knox United Church.
Politics
Calder's first bid for political office took place during the February 1912 municipal electionEdmonton municipal election, February 1912
On September 27, 1911, the voters of Edmonton approved by plebiscite the amalgamation of Edmonton with Strathcona. This amalgamation was effected February 1, 1912, and, in anticipation of this, no election was held December 11, 1911 as would normally have been required...
, when he ran to fill one of ten aldermanic seats available on Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
. He finished eleventh of eighteen, but the terms of the just-effected merger between Edmonton and Strathcona
Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona was a city in Alberta, Canada, located on the south of the North Saskatchewan River opposite of the City of Edmonton. It amalgamated with Edmonton on February 1, 1912....
stipulated that at least three of the aldermen come from the south side of the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
. Only two of the top ten (John Tipton
John Tipton (Alberta politician)
John Gaddis Tipton was a Canadian and American politician, lawyer, and coal miner. He was an alderman in Strathcona from 1908 until 1911 and on Edmonton City Council from 1912 until 1913, and was a major force for the amalgamation of the two cities, which was effected February 1, 1912.-Early...
and Thomas J. Walsh
Thomas J. Walsh (Alberta politician)
Thomas J. Walsh was a politician in Alberta, Canada. He served as alderman on the Edmonton City Council from 1912 until 1913.-Biography:...
) were, so Calder was elected to the third spot instead of the tenth place D. B. Campbell. Because of the amalgamation, an entire new council was being elected (Edmonton's councils were normally elected five members at a time for two year terms) and the five councillors with the fewest votes were only elected to one year terms, meaning that Calder had to seek re-election in December of that year
Edmonton municipal election, December 1912
The second of two 1912 municipal elections was held December 9, 1912 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
. He finished eighth of seventeen candidates; only five councillors were to be elected, but Calder benefited again from the provision requiring south side representation; since none of the candidates to finish ahead of him were from the south side, Calder was re-elected.
He was up for re-election again in the 1914 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1914
The 1914 municipal election was held December 14, 1914 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
, in which there were six, rather than five, seat available due to the resignation of Alexander Campbell. Calder finished sixth, good enough to win Campbell's seat and serve the remaining year in his term; however, Calder was instead elected to a two year term as the top finishing south side candidate. He did not seek re-election at the conclusion of this term.
Post-political career
In 1916 he went to ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as a Major
Major (Canada)
Major is a rank of the Canadian Forces. The rank insignia of a major is two half-inch stripes with a quarter-inch stripe between. Majors fill the positions of Company/Squadron/Battery Commanders, or Deputy Commanders of a Battalion/Regiment; in the Air Force they are typically squadron...
in the 19th Alberta Dragoons
19th Alberta Dragoons
The 19th Alberta Dragoons originated in Edmonton, Alberta on 1 February 1908, when the 19th The Alberta Mounted Rifles were authorized to be formed and was redesignated as the 19th Alberta Dragoons on 3 January 1911. On 16 February 1936, it was amalgamated with The Alberta Mounted Rifle. It was...
, where he commanded a Canadian Forestry Battalion. Upon his return, he retired to his farm in south Edmonton. He died in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
August 6, 1964, survived by three daughters and one son.
Hugh Calder was involved in Edmonton Exhibition Board and the Masonic Lodge
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.