James Collisson
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Joseph Collisson (August 21, 1875 – July 30, 1962) was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
, a long-time municipal councillor in Edmonton
, and a candidate for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
.
, and moved to Edmonton to teach in 1898. He remained there until 1903, when he moved to Dawson, Yukon. He taught there for two years, and returned to Edmonton in 1905. He joined the law form Short, Cross and Bigger (of which former and future mayor William Short
was a partner) as a student at law. He was admitted to the Law Society of Alberta
in 1908.
He served on Edmonton's public school board from 1908 until 1913.
, when he ran for alderman on Edmonton City Council
. He finished eighth of eleven, which wasn't high enough to be elected (only the top six candidates were elected in that election). He was more successful in 1920
, when he finished fourth of sixteen candidates and was elected to a two year term. He was re-elected in 1922
(when he finished fifth of sixteen candidates) and 1924
(when he finished second of eleven). He cut short his third term in order to run for mayor in the 1925 election
, but finished second in a six candidate race as incumbent Kenny Blatchford took more than fifty-five percent of the vote.
He returned to politics in the 1928 election
, when he returned to his old position on the strength of a sixth place finish in a fourteen candidate field. He was re-elected in the 1930 election
, when he finished third of nine candidates, but left municipal politics for good at the conclusion of this term.
On council, he chaired the finance committee.
as a Liberal
candidate in the 1930 provincial election
. He finished eighth of seventeen candidates in the riding of Edmonton
, and was eliminated on subsequent counts (the riding used a single transferable vote
voting system at the time).
James Collisson died July 30, 1962. He was survived by his wife, Irene, one son and two daughters, and eight grandchildren.
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...
, a long-time municipal councillor in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, and a candidate for election to 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...
.
Early life
Collisson was born in Lucan, Ontario in 1875. He was educated there and in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, and moved to Edmonton to teach in 1898. He remained there until 1903, when he moved to Dawson, Yukon. He taught there for two years, and returned to Edmonton in 1905. He joined the law form Short, Cross and Bigger (of which former and future mayor William Short
William Short (Alberta politician)
William Short was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a two time mayor of Edmonton.-Biography:Short was born July 11, 1866 near Elora, Ontario and studied law at the University of Toronto before coming to Alberta in 1889. He articled to James Alexander Lougheed from 1891 until 1894, when he was...
was a partner) as a student at law. He was admitted to the Law Society of Alberta
Law Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
in 1908.
He served on Edmonton's public school board from 1908 until 1913.
Municipal politics
Collisson first sought municipal office in the 1916 municipal electionEdmonton municipal election, 1916
The 1916 municipal election was held December 11, 1916 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, three trustees to sit on the public school board, and four trustees to sit on the separate school board....
, when he ran for 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...
. He finished eighth of eleven, which wasn't high enough to be elected (only the top six candidates were elected in that election). He was more successful in 1920
Edmonton municipal election, 1920
The 1920 municipal election was held December 13, 1920 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board. J Cormack, Joseph Gariépy, and J J Murray were acclaimed to two year terms on the separate school board...
, when he finished fourth of sixteen candidates and was elected to a two year term. He was re-elected in 1922
Edmonton municipal election, 1922
The 1922 municipal election was held December 11, 1922 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
(when he finished fifth of sixteen candidates) and 1924
Edmonton municipal election, 1924
The 1924 municipal election was held December 8, 1924 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....
(when he finished second of eleven). He cut short his third term in order to run for mayor in the 1925 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1925
The 1925 municipal election was held December 14, 1925 to elect a mayor and seven aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
, but finished second in a six candidate race as incumbent Kenny Blatchford took more than fifty-five percent of the vote.
He returned to politics in the 1928 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1928
The 1928 municipal election was held December 10, 1928 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
, when he returned to his old position on the strength of a sixth place finish in a fourteen candidate field. He was re-elected in the 1930 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1930
The 1930 municipal election was held November 12, 1930 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board ....
, when he finished third of nine candidates, but left municipal politics for good at the conclusion of this term.
On council, he chaired the finance committee.
Provincial politics
Collisson ran for the Legislative Assembly of AlbertaLegislative 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...
as a Liberal
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate in the 1930 provincial 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....
. He finished eighth of seventeen candidates in the riding of Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
, and was eliminated on subsequent counts (the riding used a single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
voting system at the time).
Personal life, death, and legacy
After leaving politics, Collisson served as the president of Edmonton's community chest from 1941 until 1948.James Collisson died July 30, 1962. He was survived by his wife, Irene, one son and two daughters, and eight grandchildren.