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Richard Secord (Alberta politician)
Encyclopedia
Richard Secord was a politician in western Canada
, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, a municipal councillor in Edmonton
, and a candidate for the Canadian House of Commons
.
on July 19, 1860. He was a great grandnephew of War of 1812
heroine Laura Secord
. He was educated in Brant, and graduated with honours from Brantford Collegiate Institute. He came to Edmonton by way of Chicago
and Winnipeg
, arriving September 1, 1881.
Upon arriving, he helped build the first public school in Edmonton, and then moved to Pakan, Alberta to teach native children for a year. He returned to Edmonton in 1883 and taught for four years, and then entered the employ of John Alexander McDougall
as a clerk. He started his own fur-trading business in 1888, and sold it to the Hudson's Bay Company
in 1890. Thereafter, he partnered with McDougall.
In 1897, the pair founded McDougall & Secord, which advertised itself as "general merchants, wholesale and retail; buyers and exporters of raw furs; dealers in land scrip and north west lands; outfitters for survey parties, traders, trappers, miners and others for the north, and suppliers for country stores." The two ran the company until 1907, when they sold it and went into business as a financial house and mortgage corporation called McDougall & Secord, Limited, which still exists today.
He married schoolteacher Anna Ada York in 1891; the couple had four children.
, running for alderman on Edmonton Town Council. He was elected to a one year term, and did not seek re-election at its conclusion.
He next ran for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 1902 territorial election
as a Conservative
in the riding of Edmonton
. He was elected, and served until 1905, when Alberta was created and Edmonton therefore ceased to be part of the Northwest Territories
. While in the legislature, he introduced the bill that incorporated Edmonton as a city.
Secord ran in the 1904 federal election
as a Conservative
candidate in Edmonton
, but was handily defeated by Liberal
Frank Oliver.
(which was intended as a Conservative alternative to Oliver's Liberal Edmonton Bulletin
).
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 member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, a 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 the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
Early life
Richard Secord was born in Brant, OntarioBrant, Ontario
The County of Brant is a single-tier municipality and a census division in the Canadian province of Ontario. Despite its name, it is not a county by the standard definition, as all municipal services are handled by a single level of government. The county has service offices in Burford, Paris...
on July 19, 1860. He was a great grandnephew of War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
heroine Laura Secord
Laura Secord
Laura Ingersoll Secord was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for warning British forces of an impending American attack that led to the British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.-Early life:...
. He was educated in Brant, and graduated with honours from Brantford Collegiate Institute. He came to Edmonton by way of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, arriving September 1, 1881.
Upon arriving, he helped build the first public school in Edmonton, and then moved to Pakan, Alberta to teach native children for a year. He returned to Edmonton in 1883 and taught for four years, and then entered the employ of John Alexander McDougall
John Alexander McDougall
John Alexander McDougall was a politician in Alberta, Canada, a municipal councillor and mayor in Edmonton, and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Early life:...
as a clerk. He started his own fur-trading business in 1888, and sold it to the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in 1890. Thereafter, he partnered with McDougall.
In 1897, the pair founded McDougall & Secord, which advertised itself as "general merchants, wholesale and retail; buyers and exporters of raw furs; dealers in land scrip and north west lands; outfitters for survey parties, traders, trappers, miners and others for the north, and suppliers for country stores." The two ran the company until 1907, when they sold it and went into business as a financial house and mortgage corporation called McDougall & Secord, Limited, which still exists today.
He married schoolteacher Anna Ada York in 1891; the couple had four children.
Political career
Richard Secord first sought political office during the 1898 municipal electionEdmonton municipal election, 1898
The 1898 municipal election was held December 12, 1898. In previous elections, an entire town council had been elected at once for a one year term; 1898 marked the beginning of staggered aldermanic terms, such that half of the six aldermen would be elected each year to two year terms...
, running for alderman on Edmonton Town Council. He was elected to a one year term, and did not seek re-election at its conclusion.
He next ran for the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 1902 territorial election
Northwest Territories general election, 1902
The Northwest Territories general election of 1902, occurred on 21 May 1902 and was the fifth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This was the last election held until 1951,...
as a Conservative
Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative Party
The Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative Party also known formally as the Liberal-Conservative Association prior to 1903 and the Territorial Conservative Association after 1903, was a short lived political party in the Northwest Territories, Canada. from 1897-1905...
in the riding of Edmonton
Edmonton (N.W.T. electoral district)
Edmonton was a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories, Canada.The riding was created by royal proclamation in 1883 and abolished in 1905. In 1888 the riding returned the top two candidates after it was merged with the St. Albert electoral district. The...
. He was elected, and served until 1905, when Alberta was created and Edmonton therefore ceased to be part of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. While in the legislature, he introduced the bill that incorporated Edmonton as a city.
Secord ran in the 1904 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1904
The Canadian federal election of 1904 was held on November 3 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 10th Parliament of Canada...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
candidate in Edmonton
Edmonton (electoral district)
Edmonton was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons. It was located initially in the Northwest Territories, and following its creation in 1905, the province of Alberta...
, but was handily defeated by Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Frank Oliver.
Investments and philanthropy
Secord had a significant impact on Edmonton through his expenditures of money. He arranged financing (with McDougall and others) for the construction of the city's Low Level Bridge. He also provided financial support to the Thistle Rink and the Misericordia Hospital, and financially backed the Edmonton JournalEdmonton Journal
The Edmonton Journal is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.-History:The Journal was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as a rival to Alberta's first newspaper, the 23-year-old...
(which was intended as a Conservative alternative to Oliver's Liberal Edmonton Bulletin
Edmonton Bulletin
The Edmonton Bulletin was a newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta published from 1880 until January 20, 1951. It was founded by Frank Oliver, a politician and future minister in the Canadian Government....
).