Omer St. Germain
Encyclopedia
Omer St. Germain was a barrister
, solicitor
, notary
, publisher and a provincial politician from Canada
. He served as the first mayor
of Morinville, Alberta
, and became a perennial candidate in Alberta elections hold office as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1930 to 1935 sitting with the United Farmers first and crossing the floor to the Liberals.
near Leduc
. He received his education
in Quebec and graduated in Law
from the Laval University in 1905. From 1909 to 1912 St. Germain published the francophone
news paper Le Progres which he owned. He had one son, Gerard St. Germain, born in 1910.
. He ran for a seat to the Alberta legislature as an Independent Liberal supporting the Rutherford administration. He finished in last place, losing to Liberal candidate Lucien Boudreau
.
Three years later St. Germain was elected the first mayor of Morinville in 1911. He also served as mayor from 1915–1917 and 1929-1936.
St. Germain ran for a seat to the Alberta legislature for the second time in the 1930 Alberta general election
as the United Farmers
candidate defeating Lucien Boudreau
. He caused a sensation on February 6, 1934 when he crossed the floor to the Liberals becoming the second MLA in the legislature in a week to do so.
St. Germain ran for a second term in office in the 1935 Alberta general election
but was defeated by Social Credit candidate Charles Holder
.
St. Germain tried to make a comeback by running for office for the last time in the 1948 Alberta general election
. He was defeated by cabinet minister Lucien Maynard
. He died a year later in 1949.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, notary
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
, publisher and a provincial politician from 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 the first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Morinville, Alberta
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...
, and became a perennial candidate in Alberta elections hold office 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 1930 to 1935 sitting with the United Farmers first and crossing the floor to the Liberals.
Early life
Omer St. Germain was born in Quebec in 1877 and came to Alberta with his parents in 1890, settling on a homesteadHomestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
near Leduc
Leduc, Alberta
- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....
. He received his education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in Quebec and graduated in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
from the Laval University in 1905. From 1909 to 1912 St. Germain published the francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
news paper Le Progres which he owned. He had one son, Gerard St. Germain, born in 1910.
Political career
St. Germain began his political career in the 1909 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He ran for a seat to the Alberta legislature as an Independent Liberal supporting the Rutherford administration. He finished in last place, losing to Liberal candidate Lucien Boudreau
Lucien Boudreau
Lucien Boudreau was a politician, mayor of St. Albert, Alberta, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta .-Early life:...
.
Three years later St. Germain was elected the first mayor of Morinville in 1911. He also served as mayor from 1915–1917 and 1929-1936.
St. Germain ran for a seat to the Alberta legislature for the second time in 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....
as the United Farmers
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
candidate defeating Lucien Boudreau
Lucien Boudreau
Lucien Boudreau was a politician, mayor of St. Albert, Alberta, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta .-Early life:...
. He caused a sensation on February 6, 1934 when he crossed the floor to the Liberals becoming the second MLA in the legislature in a week to do so.
St. Germain ran for a second term in office 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....
but was defeated by Social Credit candidate Charles Holder
Charles Holder
Charles Garrett Holder was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1940 and 1944 to 1948 sitting both times as a member of the Social Credit caucus.-Political career:...
.
St. Germain tried to make a comeback by running for office for the last time in the 1948 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1948
The Alberta general election of 1948 was the eleventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 17, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He was defeated by cabinet minister Lucien Maynard
Lucien Maynard
Joseph Lucien Paul Maynard was a lawyer and a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served a long career as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1955 sitting with the governing Social Credit caucus.Maynard served as a cabinet minister under Premier's William...
. He died a year later in 1949.