W. D. L. Hardie
Encyclopedia
William Duncan Livingstone Hardie or W. D. L. Hardie (1862–1942) was a Canadian politician. He was the 13th mayor of Lethbridge
, Alberta
, serving from 1912–1928. The former Hamlet of Hardieville, annexed by the City of Lethbridge in 1978, was named after him.
Hardie was born in Bathgate
, Scotland
. His family immigrated to Youngstown, Ohio
, in 1863; although, he returned to Scotland to attend Glasgow University. After graduating in 1883 with a degree in civil and mining engineering, he moved to Pennsylvania
where he married Margaret Jane Kirkley two years later.
He was hired by the Alberta Railway & Coal Company in 1889 to work as an assistant to mines superintendent William Stafford. He resigned two years later, worked for two years in Mexico and then worked for the Scranton [Pennsylvania] School of Mines. He returned to Lethbridge in 1894 to work as mines superintendent with North Western Coal and Navigation Company
. After 16 years, he quite NWCNC to work for the Diamond Coal Company at nearby Diamond City
.
In 1912, Hardie quit the Diamond Coal Company to run as mayor, defeating two other candidates. He took office on 1 January 1913. Two years later, a commission form of civic government was instituted, and he became both mayor and commissioner of finance. When the government became a managerial form in 1928 after great support from the electorate, Hardie's term as mayor ended. He worked as assistant superintendent of the Dominion Government Terminal Elevator until he retired.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, Alberta
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...
, serving from 1912–1928. The former Hamlet of Hardieville, annexed by the City of Lethbridge in 1978, was named after him.
Hardie was born in Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
, Scotland
Scotland
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...
. His family immigrated to Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, in 1863; although, he returned to Scotland to attend Glasgow University. After graduating in 1883 with a degree in civil and mining engineering, he moved to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
where he married Margaret Jane Kirkley two years later.
He was hired by the Alberta Railway & Coal Company in 1889 to work as an assistant to mines superintendent William Stafford. He resigned two years later, worked for two years in Mexico and then worked for the Scranton [Pennsylvania] School of Mines. He returned to Lethbridge in 1894 to work as mines superintendent with North Western Coal and Navigation Company
North Western Coal and Navigation Company
The North Western Coal and Navigation Company also known as Alberta Coal and Railway Company, was a coal mining company formed in 1882 by Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, one of Canada's Fathers of Confederation...
. After 16 years, he quite NWCNC to work for the Diamond Coal Company at nearby Diamond City
Diamond City, Alberta
Diamond City is a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada within the County of Lethbridge. It is located on Highway 25, approximately north of Lethbridge.Diamond City was first settled at the turn of the 20th century by farmers, ranchers and miners....
.
In 1912, Hardie quit the Diamond Coal Company to run as mayor, defeating two other candidates. He took office on 1 January 1913. Two years later, a commission form of civic government was instituted, and he became both mayor and commissioner of finance. When the government became a managerial form in 1928 after great support from the electorate, Hardie's term as mayor ended. He worked as assistant superintendent of the Dominion Government Terminal Elevator until he retired.