Sidney Parsons
Encyclopedia
Sidney Parsons was a Canadian politician, mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, and candidate for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
.
, Devon, England in 1893. He was educated in Plymouth
, but he and his parents immigrated to New Jersey
in the early 1900s. He attended technical schools there, and began work as a bricklayer with the Standard Oil Company in Bayonne, New Jersey
.
In 1910, he moved to Edmonton
, where he enlisted in the armed forces to fight in World War I. He served with the 49th Battalion, under the command of fellow future mayor William Antrobus Griesbach
. Upon his return to Canada, Parsons married Gertrude Florence Smitt on January 8, 1918; the pair would have three sons.
In his post-war life, Parsons was active in the labour movement and served as an executive officer of the Edmonton Trades & Labour Council (he would serve as its president from 1941 until 1945).
, when he ran for Edmonton City Council
as an aldermanic candidate. He finished seventh of fifteen candidates, and was not elected. He fared similarly in the 1932
and 1934
elections.
In the 1935 provincial election
, Parsons ran as a Labour
candidate in the riding of Edmonton
; he finished last of twenty-seven candidates, winning only fifty-two votes.
After this defeat, he returned to municipal politics, and was finally elected alderman in the 1938 election
, finishing fourth of thirteen candidates. He was re-elected in 1940
(finishing fourth of eighteen candidates), 1942
(third of twelve candidates), 1944
(third of twelve), 1946
(fourth of thirteen), and 1948
(first of twelve) elections.
He resigned half way through his two year aldermanic term to run for mayor in the 1949 election
. He narrowly won the five candidate field, and was elected to a two year term. He sought re-election in the 1951 election
, but was soundly defeated by William Hawrelak
. He did not return to public life thereafter.
. He also served as a labour representative on the Edmonton Hospital Board.
Sidney Parsons died April 22, 1955.
Parsons Road and Parsons Industrial, both in Edmonton, are named in his honour.
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
Parsons was born in Revelstoke, near to PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon, England in 1893. He was educated in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, but he and his parents immigrated to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the early 1900s. He attended technical schools there, and began work as a bricklayer with the Standard Oil Company in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
.
In 1910, he moved to 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...
, where he enlisted in the armed forces to fight in World War I. He served with the 49th Battalion, under the command of fellow future mayor William Antrobus Griesbach
William Antrobus Griesbach
Major General William Antrobus Griesbach CB CMG DSO was a Canadian politician, decorated soldier, mayor of Edmonton, and member of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate of Canada.-Early life:...
. Upon his return to Canada, Parsons married Gertrude Florence Smitt on January 8, 1918; the pair would have three sons.
In his post-war life, Parsons was active in the labour movement and served as an executive officer of the Edmonton Trades & Labour Council (he would serve as its president from 1941 until 1945).
Political career
Parsons first sought elected office in the 1931 Edmonton electionEdmonton municipal election, 1931
The 1931 municipal election was held November 11, 1931 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board .There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: James Collisson, Charles Gibbs,...
, when he ran for 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...
as an aldermanic candidate. He finished seventh of fifteen candidates, and was not elected. He fared similarly in the 1932
Edmonton municipal election, 1932
The 1932 municipal election was held November 9, 1932 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board ....
and 1934
Edmonton municipal election, 1934
The 1934 municipal election was held November 14, 1934 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....
elections.
In the 1935 provincial 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....
, Parsons ran as a Labour
Labour candidates and parties in Canada
There have been various groups in Canada that have nominated candidates under the label Labour Party or Independent Labour Party or other variations from the 1870s until the 1960s...
candidate 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....
; he finished last of twenty-seven candidates, winning only fifty-two votes.
After this defeat, he returned to municipal politics, and was finally elected alderman in the 1938 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1938
The 1938 municipal election was held November 9, 1938 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
, finishing fourth of thirteen candidates. He was re-elected in 1940
Edmonton municipal election, 1940
The 1940 municipal election was held November 13, 1940 to elect a mayor and seven aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council. Elections for school trustees were not held, as candidates for both the public and separate boards were acclaimed....
(finishing fourth of eighteen candidates), 1942
Edmonton municipal election, 1942
The 1942 municipal election was held November 12, 1942 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, three trustees to sit on the public school board, and five trustees to sit on the separate school board. Voters also approved an eight hour day for firefighters...
(third of twelve candidates), 1944
Edmonton municipal election, 1944
The 1944 municipal election was held November 1, 1944 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
(third of twelve), 1946
Edmonton municipal election, 1946
The 1946 municipal election was held November 6, 1946 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, four trustees to sit on the public school board, and three trustees to sit on the separate school board....
(fourth of thirteen), and 1948
Edmonton municipal election, 1948
The 1948 municipal election was held November 3, 1948 to elect five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council. There was no mayoral election, as Harry Ainlay was in the second year of a two year term...
(first of twelve) elections.
He resigned half way through his two year aldermanic term to run for mayor in the 1949 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1949
The 1949 municipal election was held November 2, 1949 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council. The electorate also decided eight plebiscite questions...
. He narrowly won the five candidate field, and was elected to a two year term. He sought re-election in the 1951 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1951
The 1951 municipal election was held November 7, 1951 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the separate school board...
, but was soundly defeated by William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak was a politician in Alberta, Canada, the longest-serving mayor in Edmonton's history, and a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons.-Early life:...
. He did not return to public life thereafter.
Personal life, death, and legacy
In later life, Parsons was involved in veterans organizations. He was president of the Ex-Servicemen's Association and was an executive member of the Montgomery branch of the Royal Canadian LegionRoyal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
. He also served as a labour representative on the Edmonton Hospital Board.
Sidney Parsons died April 22, 1955.
Parsons Road and Parsons Industrial, both in Edmonton, are named in his honour.