John Irwin (politician)

For other people with the same name, see John Irwin (disambiguation).

John Irwin Sr. (October 10, 1869 – May 7, 1948) was a Canadian provincial politician from Alberta. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1926 to 1940 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition.^[2]

John Irwin Sr.
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office June 28, 1926 – March 21, 1940
Preceded by	William Davidson, Robert Marshall, Robert Pearson and Alex Ross
Succeeded by	William Aberhart, Andrew Davison and James Mahaffy
Constituency	Calgary
Personal details
Born	October 10, 1869 Picton, Ontario
Died	May 7, 1948(1948-05-07) (aged 78) Victoria, British Columbia[1]
Political party	Conservative
Children	Leslie H., Ruth A., Fred P., Bessie, Hugh John
Parents	Henry Irwin (father) Mary Charlton Iriwn (mother)
Occupation	politician

Early life

Irwin was born October 10, 1869, at Picton, Ontario, to Henry (Irish) and Mary Charlton Irwin (English). He was educated in Picton and later moved to Calgary where he married Annetta Brown and together had five children.^[2] Irwin was a businessman in Calgary, purchasing the 1903 Calgary Milling Company building on Stephen Avenue in 1912 and turning it into a grocery store specializing in fancy and imported foods.^[3] The Calgary Milling Company building has subsequently been designated a Provincial and Municipal Historic Resource under the Historical Resources Act.^[4][5]

Political career

Irwin ran for a seat to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a Conservative candidate in the electoral district of Calgary in the 1926 Alberta general election. He won the third place seat out of five in the eleven way race to earn his first term in office.^[6]

Irwin ran for a second term in office in the 1930 Alberta general election. He was re-elected finishing in the third place seat once again.^[7]

Irwin ran for a third term in office in the 1935 Alberta general election. He withstood the Social Credit landslide becoming one of the few incumbents to retain a seat. He took second place out of six seats available.^[8]

Irwin retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the assembly in 1940.

John Irwin's grandson, also named John Irwin, served as Mayor of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.^[9]

References

1. "Funeral in Victoria for John Irwin". Calgary Herald. May 8, 1948. p. 9. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
2. Normandin, A. L., ed. (1940). "The Canadian Parliamentary Guide". The Canadian Parliamentary Guide = Guide Parlementaire Canadien. Ottawa: Mortimer Company Ltd.: 383-384. ISSN 0315-6168. OCLC 893686591. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
3. Field, Dorothy, ed. (1995). Stephen Avenue and Area Historical Walking Tour (PDF). Alberta Community Development. p. 23. ISBN 0773208909. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
4. Calgary Milling Company Building (Municipal Designation). Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
5. Calgary Milling Company Building (Provincial Designation). Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
6. "Calgary results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
7. "Calgary results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
8. "Calgary results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
9. https://web.archive.org/web/20220703022315/https://www.assembly.ab.ca/Documents/isysquery/99cb856d-af89-4658-823c-cb4a2cce6613/1/doc/19860626_1430_01_han.pdf (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 26, 1986. p. 243. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 3, 2022. {{cite book}}: |archive-url= missing title (help)

External links

• John Irwin – Legislative Assembly of Alberta Member Profile