William Bredin
Encyclopedia
William Fletcher Bredin was a Canadian politician and pioneer. Born in Stormont County, Ontario
, he came west to Red Deer Crossing in 1883, where he took over a claim from Esias Myers. He subsequently moved to Calgary
, where he opened a store with R. Steen, engaged in freighting
between Calgary and Edmonton
, and was active with the Oddfellows
. He also established the Climax coal mine, 22 miles (35.4 km) southwest of Calgary. He later moved to Edmonton and then further north, establishing the Buffalo Lakes Trading Post
in the area later known as Lamerton in 1892, when there were only seven settlers in the area. He sold the post to Joe Edminson in 1895. Around 1897, he travelled by boat down the Athabasca River
to the Mackenzie River
.
He eventually settled in the Peace River Country
, where he opened a series of fur trading
posts with James Cornwall
; they sold these to the Revillon Frères
in 1906. By 1907 he claimed to have lived "all over the Northwest pretty well".
He ran in 1905 Alberta provincial election
as a Liberal
in Athabasca
, and was the only candidate acclaimed during that election. In office, he advocated for a railway to be built into the northeast corner of the province. He also gave testimony to a select committee of the Senate of Canada in 1907 about agricultural conditions in northwest Canada, drawing on his experience living and travelling in the area, including his boat trip down the Athabasca of ten years before. In his testimony, he estimated that the "good land north of Edmonton, east of the Rocky mountains" amounted to at least 100000000 acres (40,468,600 ha). He married Anna Brown Marsh in Clarksburg, Ontario in September 1907.
Bredin sought re-election in the 1909 election
, but was defeated by fellow Liberal Jean Côté
. He sought to return to office in Peace River
in the 1913 election
as an independent Liberal, but finished a distant third of three candidates.
After leaving office, Bredin returned to farming and fur trading around Lesser Slave Lake
. During the 1920s, he served as a director of the United Farmers of Alberta
; in this capacity, he moved a successful resolution protesting a new pelt
tax, as many northern farmers supplemented their incomes by trapping.
William Bredin died on December 30, 1942 at the age of 80.
Stormont County, Ontario
Stormont County area is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Stormont was created in 1792, however, it was settled seven years earlier in 1785. Veterans of Loyalist regiments were among the first settlers...
, he came west to Red Deer Crossing in 1883, where he took over a claim from Esias Myers. He subsequently moved to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, where he opened a store with R. Steen, engaged in freighting
Freighting
Freighting refers to the hauling of cargo, historically, using a dog team to mush goods cross-country. During the North American gold rushes, such as the Klondike Gold Rush, dogs were valuable draft animals, going where horses could not and withstanding harsher weather.Dog teams were commonly used...
between Calgary and 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 was active with the Oddfellows
Oddfellows
The name Oddfellows refers to a number of friendly societies and fraternal organisations operating in the United Kingdom. It also refers to a number of Lodges with histories dating back to the 18th century. These various organisations were set up to protect and care for their members and...
. He also established the Climax coal mine, 22 miles (35.4 km) southwest of Calgary. He later moved to Edmonton and then further north, establishing the Buffalo Lakes Trading Post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
in the area later known as Lamerton in 1892, when there were only seven settlers in the area. He sold the post to Joe Edminson in 1895. Around 1897, he travelled by boat down the Athabasca River
Athabasca River
The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...
to the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
.
He eventually settled in the Peace River Country
Peace River Country
The Peace River Country is an aspen parkland region around the Peace River in Canada. It spans from northwestern Alberta to the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, where the region is also referred to as the Peace River Block.- Geography :The Peace River Country includes the...
, where he opened a series of fur trading
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
posts with James Cornwall
James Cornwall
Lieutenant Colonel James Kennedy "Peace River Jim" Cornwall was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1913 sitting with the Liberal caucus in government....
; they sold these to the Revillon Frères
Revillon Freres
Révillon Frères was a French fur and luxury goods company, founded in 1723.At the end of the 19th century, Revillon had stores in Paris, London, New York, and Montreal. -Fur trading operation:...
in 1906. By 1907 he claimed to have lived "all over the Northwest pretty well".
He ran in 1905 Alberta provincial election
Alberta general election, 1905
The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...
as a Liberal
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...
in Athabasca
Athabasca (provincial electoral district)
Athabasca was a provincial electoral district covering north east Alberta, Canada.The riding, was created in 1905 when Alberta first became a province...
, and was the only candidate acclaimed during that election. In office, he advocated for a railway to be built into the northeast corner of the province. He also gave testimony to a select committee of the Senate of Canada in 1907 about agricultural conditions in northwest Canada, drawing on his experience living and travelling in the area, including his boat trip down the Athabasca of ten years before. In his testimony, he estimated that the "good land north of Edmonton, east of the Rocky mountains" amounted to at least 100000000 acres (40,468,600 ha). He married Anna Brown Marsh in Clarksburg, Ontario in September 1907.
Bredin sought re-election in the 1909 election
Alberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, but was defeated by fellow Liberal Jean Côté
Jean Côté
Jean Léon Côté was a prominent Canadian politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 until 1923 sitting with the provincial Liberal party in both government and opposition. He vacated his provincial seat when he was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1923...
. He sought to return to office in Peace River
Peace River (provincial electoral district)
Peace River is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting...
in the 1913 election
Alberta general election, 1913
The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
as an independent Liberal, but finished a distant third of three candidates.
After leaving office, Bredin returned to farming and fur trading around Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake is a lake located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries , covering and measuring over long and at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages in depth and is at its deepest...
. During the 1920s, he served as a director of the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
; in this capacity, he moved a successful resolution protesting a new pelt
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
tax, as many northern farmers supplemented their incomes by trapping.
William Bredin died on December 30, 1942 at the age of 80.
Electoral record
| 1913 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1913 The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July... results (Peace River Peace River (provincial electoral district) Peace River is a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district is mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta using the first past the post method of voting... ) |
Turnout 82.2% | |||
| Conservative | Alphaeus Patterson Alphaeus Patterson Alphaeus Patterson was a politician and business man from Alberta, Canada.-Business:Patterson founded a company with William Rae known as The Argonaut Company Ltd. in 1909 Patterson became President and Rae became the secretary-treasure... |
475 | 49.53% |
Liberal 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... |
William Archibald Rae William Archibald Rae William Archibald Rae was a businessman and provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada.-Argonaut Company:Rae was instrumental in the founding of Grande Prairie, Alberta with his work as secretary-treasure in the The Argonaut Company Ltd. The company bought and subdivided land that would... |
437 | 45.57% |
Independent Liberal | William Fletcher Bredin | 47 | 4.90% |
| 1909 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1909 The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... results (Athabasca Athabasca (provincial electoral district) Athabasca was a provincial electoral district covering north east Alberta, Canada.The riding, was created in 1905 when Alberta first became a province... ) |
Turnout 62.3% | |||
| Liberal 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... |
Jean Côté Jean Côté Jean Léon Côté was a prominent Canadian politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 until 1923 sitting with the provincial Liberal party in both government and opposition. He vacated his provincial seat when he was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1923... |
230 | 59.59% |
Liberal 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... |
William Fletcher Bredin | 149 | 38.60% |
Conservative | V. Mauricw | 7 | 1.81% |
| 1905 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1905 The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories... results (Athabasca Athabasca (provincial electoral district) Athabasca was a provincial electoral district covering north east Alberta, Canada.The riding, was created in 1905 when Alberta first became a province... ) |
Turnout N/A | |||
| Liberal 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... |
William Fletcher Bredin | Acclaimed | ||