William Johnston (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
William George Johnston (January 23, 1876 – June 6, 1925) was a Canadian provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
sitting with the Domion Labor Party caucus from 1921 to his death in 1925.
on January 23, 1876 to James A. Johnston and Helen A. Clark, both of Scottish
descent. He was educated at public schools on Grey County, Ontario
. Upon his arrival to the district of Woolchester, Alberta in 1900, he found employment with the Canadian Pacific Railway
as a driver of passenger trains. He had also, a number of times, served a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
party in the 1921 Alberta general election
. He won the second seat in the four cornered race. Johnston's returns showed a seesaw battle for first place with United Farmers
candidate Perren Baker
. While attending a Legislative session, Johnston fell ill, and returned to his home where he had become bedridden. As of late, had been experiencing heart problems, and a long illness. He died soon after of the illness in the evening of June 6, 1925. His funeral, "one of the largest ever held in Medicine Hat" at the time, was attended by many Alberta cabinet ministers and MLAs. A death notice published several weeks after his death proclaimed him "one of the most popular members of the house." A United Farmers of Alberta
publication, published shortly after his death, also referring to Johnston as one of the more popular members, also stated that he was "well known in the rural parts of his constituency as he was in the city, and in the Legislative Assembly, he was an effective and able spokesman of his farmer constituents."
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...
. He served as a member of 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...
sitting with the Domion Labor Party caucus from 1921 to his death in 1925.
Early life
Johnston was born at Owen Sound, OntarioOwen Sound, Ontario
Owen Sound , the county seat of Grey County, is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada...
on January 23, 1876 to James A. Johnston and Helen A. Clark, both of Scottish
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...
descent. He was educated at public schools on Grey County, Ontario
Grey County, Ontario
Grey County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is in Owen Sound. The population was 92,411 in 2006. It is located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Southwestern Ontario...
. Upon his arrival to the district of Woolchester, Alberta in 1900, he found employment with the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
as a driver of passenger trains. He had also, a number of times, served a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Political career and death
Johnston ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the electoral district of Medicine Hat as the candidate for the Dominion LaborDominion Labor Party (Alberta)
The Dominion Labor Party provincial branch of the Canadian Labor Party in Alberta was a minor political party. The party was founded on March 29, 1919 as the Federated Labor Party. The party was renamed the Dominion Labor Party later that year.-Early history:...
party in the 1921 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
. He won the second seat in the four cornered race. Johnston's returns showed a seesaw battle for first place with United Farmers
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...
candidate Perren Baker
Perren Baker
Perren Earle Baker was a Canadian politician who served as Alberta's Minister of Education from 1921 until 1935.-Electoral record:-Notes:...
. While attending a Legislative session, Johnston fell ill, and returned to his home where he had become bedridden. As of late, had been experiencing heart problems, and a long illness. He died soon after of the illness in the evening of June 6, 1925. His funeral, "one of the largest ever held in Medicine Hat" at the time, was attended by many Alberta cabinet ministers and MLAs. A death notice published several weeks after his death proclaimed him "one of the most popular members of the house." A 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...
publication, published shortly after his death, also referring to Johnston as one of the more popular members, also stated that he was "well known in the rural parts of his constituency as he was in the city, and in the Legislative Assembly, he was an effective and able spokesman of his farmer constituents."