Terry Cavanagh
Encyclopedia
Terence James Cavanagh (born July 19, 1926) is a Canadian
politician, municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta, who served as mayor. He was Edmonton's first native-born mayor.
immigrants. He attended high school in Edmonton before moving to Galt, Ontario to play hockey
for the Galt Red Wings
of the Ontario Hockey Association
, where he was a teammate of Gordie Howe
. After stints with the Dallas Texans of the United States Hockey League
, the Valleyfield Braves
of the Quebec Senior Hockey League
, and the Los Angeles Ramblers
and the Trail Smoke Eaters
of the Western International Hockey League
, he retired from hockey and found employment in the purchasing department of Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. in Trail, British Columbia
. He married June Gould on April 12, 1948; the couple would have three children, and June would herself serve as an Edmonton alderman.
In 1957, he returned to Edmonton to work as the purchasing manager for Premier Steel Mills Ltd. He stayed on when the company was taken over by Stelco Steel in 1962, and remained in the position until 1977.
, when he ran for Edmonton City Council
as an aldermanic candidate. He was defeated, finishing fourteenth of thirty-two candidates in an election in which the top twelve were elected. He was more successful during the 1971 election
; Edmonton had adopted a ward system (in which three aldermen were elected in each of four wards) to replace the previous at-large
method of election, and Cavanagh placed second of seventeen candidates in Ward 4. He was re-elected in the 1974 election
, when he placed first of nine candidates.
On November 7, 1975, mayor William Hawrelak
died in office. After nine ballots, Council chose Cavanagh over Laurence Decore
to serve out his term, but when ran to retain the position in the 1977 election
, he finished third, nearly ten thousand votes behind victor Cec Purves
and under a thousand behind Decore (he did finish well ahead of former mayor Ivor Dent
, however). He stayed out of politics for six years following this defeat, serving as chair of the Government of Alberta's Alberta Rent Decontrol Appeal Board (tasked with the elimination of provincial rent controls) from 1977 until 1980 and as a communications advisor for the Alberta Energy Company Ltd. from 1980 until 1984. He also rejected overtures from Neil Stanley Crawford
to run for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
as a Progressive Conservative
, commenting later that he had little interest in sitting as a backbencher after serving as mayor of Edmonton, and that Premier Peter Lougheed
had not been prepared to promise him a cabinet position.
, when he finished second of eight candidates in Ward 6 (Edmonton's ward system had been revised such that there were two aldermen elected from each of six wards). He was re-elected in the 1986 election
, placing first of nine candidates.
In 1988, Decore (who had been elected mayor in 1983) resigned to take a position as leader of the Alberta Liberal Party
. Again Council chose Cavanagh to serve as interim mayor, and again he was defeated soundly when he sought re-election - this time, he finished with fewer than half the votes of Jan Reimer
during the 1989 municipal election
. He would win his old aldermanic seat back in the 1992 election
, and would be re-elected in the 1995
, 1998
, 2001
, and 2004
elections.
In May 2007, Cavanagh announced that he would not seek election in the 2007 municipal election
.
valley as a park area, despite the fact that he is not generally known as an environmentalist. Despite his experience in removing rent controls during the 1970s, he urged Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach
to consider reintroducing them during Alberta's recent economic boom and accompanying tight housing market.
During the later years of his political involvement, some observers accused him of taking a less active role on city council than in years past.
(where he has also taught a purchasing management course), and the University of Alberta
's Faculty of Extension. He has also taught a government relations course at Grant MacEwan College
.
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...
politician, municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta, who served as mayor. He was Edmonton's first native-born mayor.
Early life
Cavanagh was born in Edmonton July 19, 1926, to recent ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
immigrants. He attended high school in Edmonton before moving to Galt, Ontario to play hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
for the Galt Red Wings
Galt Red Wings
The Galt Red Wings were a junior ice hockey team based in Galt, Ontario, now a part of the city of Cambridge. They played in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1944 to 1947 and were operated as an affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Their home arena was the Galt Arena Gardens.The team was...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
, where he was a teammate of Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
. After stints with the Dallas Texans of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
, the Valleyfield Braves
Valleyfield Braves
Les Braves de Valleyfield are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League.-History:...
of the Quebec Senior Hockey League
Quebec Senior Hockey League
The Quebec Senior Hockey League was an ice hockey league that operated between 1941 and 1959 in Québec, Canada. From 1941, it operated on an amateur basis, before becoming the semi-professional Quebec Hockey League in 1953...
, and the Los Angeles Ramblers
Los Angeles Ramblers
The Los Angeles Ramblers were a senior men's ice hockey team that played one season in the Western International Hockey League.-Background:...
and the Trail Smoke Eaters
Trail Smoke Eaters (senior)
The Trail Smoke Eaters were a senior level men's ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia that played from 1926 to 1987. They are recognized as being one of the best senior hockey teams in Canadian history...
of the Western International Hockey League
Western International Hockey League
The Western International Hockey League was a senior level ice hockey league that featured teams from the Western United States and Western Canada. It operated from 1946–62 and 1963–88...
, he retired from hockey and found employment in the purchasing department of Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. in Trail, British Columbia
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
. He married June Gould on April 12, 1948; the couple would have three children, and June would herself serve as an Edmonton alderman.
In 1957, he returned to Edmonton to work as the purchasing manager for Premier Steel Mills Ltd. He stayed on when the company was taken over by Stelco Steel in 1962, and remained in the position until 1977.
Early career and hiatus
Cavanagh entered politics during the 1968 Edmonton electionEdmonton municipal election, 1968
The 1968 municipal election was held October 16, 1968 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions....
, 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 was defeated, finishing fourteenth of thirty-two candidates in an election in which the top twelve were elected. He was more successful during the 1971 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1971
The 1971 municipal election was held October 13, 1971 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards.This was the first election in which a ward system was used...
; Edmonton had adopted a ward system (in which three aldermen were elected in each of four wards) to replace the previous at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
method of election, and Cavanagh placed second of seventeen candidates in Ward 4. He was re-elected in the 1974 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1974
The 1974 municipal election was held October 16, 1974 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards.-Voter turnout:...
, when he placed first of nine candidates.
On November 7, 1975, mayor 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:...
died in office. After nine ballots, Council chose Cavanagh over Laurence Decore
Laurence Decore
Laurence G. Decore, CM was a Ukrainian-Canadian lawyer and politician from Alberta. He was mayor of Edmonton, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.- Early life :...
to serve out his term, but when ran to retain the position in the 1977 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1977
The 1977 municipal election was held October 19, 1977 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board....
, he finished third, nearly ten thousand votes behind victor Cec Purves
Cec Purves
Cecil John Harry Purves is a politician in Alberta, Canada, who served as mayor of Edmonton.-Early life:Purves was born in Edmonton on October 18, 1933. He grew up in the city's Riverdale district and graduated high school in the city...
and under a thousand behind Decore (he did finish well ahead of former mayor Ivor Dent
Ivor Dent
Ivor Graham Dent, was a politician from Alberta, Canada, a mayor of Edmonton, and a former candidate for the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Early life:...
, however). He stayed out of politics for six years following this defeat, serving as chair of the Government of Alberta's Alberta Rent Decontrol Appeal Board (tasked with the elimination of provincial rent controls) from 1977 until 1980 and as a communications advisor for the Alberta Energy Company Ltd. from 1980 until 1984. He also rejected overtures from Neil Stanley Crawford
Neil Stanley Crawford
Neil Stanley Crawford was a politician and jazz musician from Alberta, Canada.-Early life:Neil was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He married Catherine May Hughes September 3, 1951...
to run for 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...
as a 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...
, commenting later that he had little interest in sitting as a backbencher after serving as mayor of Edmonton, and that Premier Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
had not been prepared to promise him a cabinet position.
Return to council
He returned to Council after the 1983 electionEdmonton municipal election, 1983
The 1983 municipal election was held October 17, 1983 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council in Alberta, Canada, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board.-Voter turnout:...
, when he finished second of eight candidates in Ward 6 (Edmonton's ward system had been revised such that there were two aldermen elected from each of six wards). He was re-elected in the 1986 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1986
The 1986 municipal election was held October 20, 1986 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board....
, placing first of nine candidates.
In 1988, Decore (who had been elected mayor in 1983) resigned to take a position as leader of the Alberta Liberal Party
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...
. Again Council chose Cavanagh to serve as interim mayor, and again he was defeated soundly when he sought re-election - this time, he finished with fewer than half the votes of Jan Reimer
Janice Rhea Reimer
Janice Rhea Reimer is a Canadian politician and the first female mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, having served in that capacity from 1989 until 1995...
during the 1989 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1989
The Edmonton municipal election, 1989 was held on October 16 that year to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board...
. He would win his old aldermanic seat back in the 1992 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1992
The 1992 municipal election was held October 22, 1992 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board...
, and would be re-elected in the 1995
Edmonton municipal election, 1995
The 1995 municipal election was held October 16, 1995 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board...
, 1998
Edmonton municipal election, 1998
The 1998 municipal election was held October 26, 1998 to elect a mayor and twelve councillors to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board...
, 2001
Edmonton municipal election, 2001
The 2001 Edmonton municipal election was held on October 15, 2001 to elect a mayor and twelve councilors to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, seven trustees to sit on the separate school board, and seven members of the Capital Health Board of...
, and 2004
Edmonton municipal election, 2004
The 2004 Edmonton municipal election was held on October 18, 2004 to elect a mayor and twelve councillors to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board.-Voter turnout:...
elections.
In May 2007, Cavanagh announced that he would not seek election in the 2007 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 2007
The 2007 Edmonton municipal election was held Monday, October 15, 2007 to elect a mayor and 12 councillors to the city council, eight of the nine trustees to Edmonton Public Schools, and four of the seven trustees to the Edmonton Catholic Schools...
.
Political views, initiatives, and reputation
Terry Cavanagh has excellent ties with Edmonton's immigrant and especially Chinese communities. Members of the Chinese community threw him a dinner for his eightieth birthday, and he claims that he can say "vote for me" in "15 or 17 languages". He has also been an advocate for the development of Edmonton's North Saskatchewan RiverNorth Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
valley as a park area, despite the fact that he is not generally known as an environmentalist. Despite his experience in removing rent controls during the 1970s, he urged Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach
Ed Stelmach
Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a...
to consider reintroducing them during Alberta's recent economic boom and accompanying tight housing market.
During the later years of his political involvement, some observers accused him of taking a less active role on city council than in years past.
Personal life and extra-political involvement
Cavanagh is a communications instructor, and has taught courses on the subject at Victoria Composite High School, the Northern Alberta Institute of TechnologyNorthern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and provides technical training and applied education designed to meet the demands of Alberta's industries...
(where he has also taught a purchasing management course), and the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
's Faculty of Extension. He has also taught a government relations course at Grant MacEwan College
Grant MacEwan College
Grant MacEwan University is a post-secondary educational institution located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1971 as "Grant MacEwan Community College,” the institution got its start by offering primarily one and two-year certificate and diploma programs. In 1988 it received approval to...
.