Thomas Grindley
Encyclopedia
Thomas Maltby Grindley was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a municipal councillor in Edmonton
.
on the Isle of Man
. He was educated there and immigrated to Canada in 1882. He moved to the country's west as a trading agent for the Chipman Brother of Halifax
. He joined the military and took part in suppressing the North-West Rebellion
in 1885, serving under Sam Steele
.
In 1886 he left the Chipam Brothers and opened a general store in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
, where he also served as a school trustee. The following year, he became buyer and manager for Ross Brothers Hardware Company, co-owned by James Ross
.
In 1888 he married Mary Jane Furnivale, with whom he would have two children.
In 1903 he left the Ross Brothers to join the Revillon Brothers, where he remained until 1905 when he established Gorman, Clancey & Grindley, a mercantile house in Edmonton.
In the 1904 municipal election
, Grindley ran for alderman on Edmonton City Council
. He finished ninth of seventeen candidates, and was defeated. He was more successful in the 1910 election
, when he finished second of eleven candidates and was elected to what was intended to be a two year term. However, Edmonton's merger with Strathcona
necessitated an entire new Council to be elected in February 1912, and Grindley's term was truncated. He was unsuccessful in his attempts to win it back, as he finished fourteenth of eighteen candidates.
While residing in Edmonton, Grindley built a large mansion, now known as the Grindley Suites, on 121 Street and 102 Ave. Although his ownership of the building was short lived, the building itself has a rich history, which includes housing the Edmonton Grads
, an internationally successful women's basketball team.
Grindley was involved with the Anglican Church, the Freemasons
, and the Liberal Party
.
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...
, 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...
and 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...
.
Biography
Thomas Grindley was born November 8, 1864 in LaxeyLaxey
Laxey is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning 'Salmon River'.The village lies on the A2, the main Douglas to Ramsey road. Laxey Glen is one of the Manx National Glens, with Dhoon Glen being located close by...
on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. He was educated there and immigrated to Canada in 1882. He moved to the country's west as a trading agent for the Chipman Brother of Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
. He joined the military and took part in suppressing the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
in 1885, serving under Sam Steele
Sam Steele
Major General Sir Samuel Benfield Steele, CB, KCMG, MVO was a distinguished Canadian soldier and police official...
.
In 1886 he left the Chipam Brothers and opened a general store in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Fort Saskatchewan is a city in Alberta, Canada, located northeast of downtown Edmonton, Alberta's capital city, along the North Saskatchewan River. Fort Saskatchewan is part of the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area and is one of 24 municipalities on the Capital Region Board...
, where he also served as a school trustee. The following year, he became buyer and manager for Ross Brothers Hardware Company, co-owned by James Ross
James Ross (Alberta politician)
James Ross was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a municipal councillor in Edmonton.-Biography:Ross was born August 14, 1851 in Toronto. He received his apprenticeship in tinsmithing and worked as a journeyman. He moved to Edmonton in 1878 and established a tinshop in 1882...
.
In 1888 he married Mary Jane Furnivale, with whom he would have two children.
In 1903 he left the Ross Brothers to join the Revillon Brothers, where he remained until 1905 when he established Gorman, Clancey & Grindley, a mercantile house in Edmonton.
In the 1904 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1904
The 1904 municipal election was held December 12, 1904 for the purpose of electing a mayor and eight aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees. It was Edmonton's first election as a city, and the first in which there were...
, Grindley ran for alderman on 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...
. He finished ninth of seventeen candidates, and was defeated. He was more successful in the 1910 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1910
The 1910 municipal election was held December 12, 1910 for the purpose of electing a mayor and five aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as three public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
, when he finished second of eleven candidates and was elected to what was intended to be a two year term. However, Edmonton's merger with Strathcona
Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona was a city in Alberta, Canada, located on the south of the North Saskatchewan River opposite of the City of Edmonton. It amalgamated with Edmonton on February 1, 1912....
necessitated an entire new Council to be elected in February 1912, and Grindley's term was truncated. He was unsuccessful in his attempts to win it back, as he finished fourteenth of eighteen candidates.
While residing in Edmonton, Grindley built a large mansion, now known as the Grindley Suites, on 121 Street and 102 Ave. Although his ownership of the building was short lived, the building itself has a rich history, which includes housing the Edmonton Grads
Edmonton Grads
The Edmonton Grads were a Canadian women's basketball team. While long disbanded, the team continues to hold the North American record for the sports team with the best winning percentage of all time. The Grads won the first women's world title in basketball in 1924.-Origin:In 1912, J. Percy Page...
, an internationally successful women's basketball team.
Grindley was involved with the Anglican Church, the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and the Liberal Party
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...
.