Ray Gibbon
Encyclopedia
Ray M. Gibbon is a former mayor
of St. Albert, Alberta
, having served in this capacity from 1968 to 1974, and briefly again in 1989.
By profession, Gibbon was a contract life insurance agent. He also served in the Royal Canadian Navy
during World War II
.
Gibbon ran for St. Albert Town Council in 1964, and was defeated. However, he challenged the result in court, alleging that the polling stations were not able to properly conduct their function and that many voters were improperly turned away. In response, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench ordered new elections to be held. These took place in 1965, and Gibbon was elected to Council.
Three years later, Gibbon was elected to mayor, an office he occupied until being defeated in 1974 by Richard Plain
, who accused Gibbon of fostering an environment of unconstrained municipal growth. In 1969 Gibbon joined the executive of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, serving as Vice President from 1973 to 1974. Following his defeat, he served on the Board of Directors of the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce for ten years, and served as its President in 1983. In 1977, he announced his intention to challenge incumbent MLA Ernie Jamison
for the provincial Progressive Conservative
nomination in the 1979 general election
, but was unsuccessful. This was his second time challenging Jamison for the nomination; he had also been defeated in 1971.
In 1984, Gibbon made a return to municipal office by being elected alderman. Re-elected in 1986, he served as interim mayor for seven months in 1989, following the resignation of Dick Fowler to run in the 1989 provincial election
. However, Gibbon elected not to run for mayor in the 1989 municipal election, and was instead elected to another term as alderman. He did not run for re-election in 1992.
Ray Gibbon Drive
, a road proposed during the St. Albert West Regional Road Debate, was named in his honour. Eventually the road was constructed, but not with the original alignment.
Ray Gibbon died October 16, 1999 of a cancerous brain tumor.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...
, having served in this capacity from 1968 to 1974, and briefly again in 1989.
By profession, Gibbon was a contract life insurance agent. He also served in the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Gibbon ran for St. Albert Town Council in 1964, and was defeated. However, he challenged the result in court, alleging that the polling stations were not able to properly conduct their function and that many voters were improperly turned away. In response, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench ordered new elections to be held. These took place in 1965, and Gibbon was elected to Council.
Three years later, Gibbon was elected to mayor, an office he occupied until being defeated in 1974 by Richard Plain
Richard Plain
Richard Plain is a Canadian politician. Plain is the former mayor of St. Albert, Alberta, having served from 1974 to 1977 and again from 2001 to 2004. In February 2007, he announced that he would seek a third term as mayor in the 2007 election....
, who accused Gibbon of fostering an environment of unconstrained municipal growth. In 1969 Gibbon joined the executive of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, serving as Vice President from 1973 to 1974. Following his defeat, he served on the Board of Directors of the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce for ten years, and served as its President in 1983. In 1977, he announced his intention to challenge incumbent MLA Ernie Jamison
Ernie Jamison
William Ernest "Ernie" Jamison was a publisher and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
for the provincial Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
nomination in the 1979 general election
Alberta general election, 1979
The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, but was unsuccessful. This was his second time challenging Jamison for the nomination; he had also been defeated in 1971.
In 1984, Gibbon made a return to municipal office by being elected alderman. Re-elected in 1986, he served as interim mayor for seven months in 1989, following the resignation of Dick Fowler to run in the 1989 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1989
The Alberta general election of 1989 was the twenty-second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 20, 1989 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. However, Gibbon elected not to run for mayor in the 1989 municipal election, and was instead elected to another term as alderman. He did not run for re-election in 1992.
Ray Gibbon Drive
Ray Gibbon Drive
Ray Gibbon Drive, referred to as the West Regional Road during proposal and planning stages, is a developing freeway in west St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. Except for the Edmonton portion, it is only partially constructed as a two-lane road, it will form part of a future realigned Highway 2. Once...
, a road proposed during the St. Albert West Regional Road Debate, was named in his honour. Eventually the road was constructed, but not with the original alignment.
Ray Gibbon died October 16, 1999 of a cancerous brain tumor.