Biographies of Mayors and Councillors (original) (raw)

Select the first letter of the last name of the mayor or councillor you wish to look up:

A |B |C |D |E |F |G |H |I |J |K |L |M |N |O |P |Q |R |S |T |U |V |W |X |Y |Z

The short biographies have been compiled from a number of sources available at the Edmonton Public Library. These sources, noted with each biographical entry, often contain other biographical data and can be consulted in the library if more information on a particular person is needed.

| | | Parsons, Sidney Born in Revelstoke, Devon, England in 1893?; son of Thomas and Jane (nee Wakeman) Parsons. Educated in public schools in Plymouth, England. Moved with his parents to New Jersey where he attended technical schools. Began his career in Bayonne, N.J. with Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey. Bricklayer by trade, later construction contractor. Moved to Edmonton in 1910. Went overseas with 49th Battalion, Edmonton Regiment, in World War I. Active in labour affairs; president of Edmonton Trades and Labour Council, 1941-1945. Labour representative on Edmonton Hospital Board. Member of the Church of Canada. Married January 8, 1918. Died on April 22, 1955 at age 62. Survived by his wife and three sons.**Additional Photos:Edmonton Journal, April 23, 1955, p. 1, 20Source of Text:**Edmonton Journal, April 23, 1955, p. 1, 20 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paterson, A. Blair Additional Photos:Edmonton Bulletin, July 9, 1940, p. 9Source of Text: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Patterson, Guy Born in Sussex, New Brunswick, in 1892. Came to Edmonton shortly before WWI. Attended University of Alberta and Queen's University where he enlisted and went overseas. Returned to Edmonton after WWI and graduated in law in 1921. Active legal career lasted until retirement in 1973. Appointed King's Counsel in 1937. The same year appointed Crown prosecutor for Vegreville judicial district and in 1940 named Crown prosecutor for Edmonton district. Resigned in 1946 to return to criminal law practice. Served on the Royal Alexandra Hospital Board. Died in Camrose on October 12, 1976. Survived by wife Annetta, three sons and three daughters.**Additional Photos:Edmonton Journal, November 14, 1935, p. 13Source of Text:**Edmonton Journal, October 15, 1976, p. 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Paull, Helen Born in Edmonton. Educated at the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. Chairman of the Board, Edmonton Convention Centre Authority; board member of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Advisory Board, Edmonton Northlands, Edmonton Regional Mental Health Council, Downtown Business Association, Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission, St. Joseph's Hospital, and the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Involved in various associations, including the Hadassah Bazaar, and fundraising activities for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Citadel Theatre. Married to Cecil L. Three children.**Additional Photos:The City of Edmonton: your city, its attractions, government and servicesAlberta who’s who 4th ed., p. 300Source of Text:**The City of Edmonton: your city, its attractions, government and servicesAlberta who’s who 4th ed., p. 300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Phair, Michael AlbertBorn in August 1950 in Loyal, Wisconsin. Son of Alfred and Gertrude (nee Davel) Phair. B.A., Towson State University in Baltimore, MD, 1971. Master of Education (early childhood), Erikson Institute, Loyal University, Chicago, IL, 1973. M.A. (special education), San Francisco State University, 1984. Director, Christopher House, Lakeside Childcare Center, Chicago, IL, 1974-1979; instructor in early childhood education, Mount Royal College, Calgary, 1978-1980; early childhood services consultant, Alberta Education, 1980-1985; sessional instructor, early childhood education, Grant MacEwan Community College, 1980-1991; manager, settlement programs, Alberta Career Development and Employment, 1985-1992. Chosen by Edmonton Journal as Edmonton's citizen of the year (1986). Member, Social Planning Council, Edmonton Community Foundation, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Society. Co-founder of AIDS Network of Edmonton and long-standing gay advocate.**Additional Photos:Edmonton Journal, October 8, 1995, p. B3Source of Text:**Edmonton Journal, October 8, 1995, p. B3Who's who in Alberta, 1994-1998, p. 684 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pheasey, George Additional Photos:Edmonton Bulletin, December 7, 1916, p. 6Source of Text: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Picard, Joseph HenryBorn in St. Jean de Matha, Quebec, on February 18, 1857; son of Joseph and Angelle (nee Roy) Picard. Educated in public schools in Quebec; apprenticed as carpenter. Came west in 1884 to Fort Qu'Appelle and Regina, Saskatchewan, then to Edmonton in 1887. Carpenter and contractor until 1889 when in partnership with S. Larue opened a general store, Larue & Picard. Business sold in 1907 when both owners retired. Also owned large property. Served as Separate School Board trustee for twenty-six years. First president of Edmonton Board of Trade, charter member of Edmonton Club. President of Jasper Coal Mine Co., Arrow Lake Fruit Lands Co.; vice-president of Franco Mortgage & Loan Co. Roman Catholic by religion; Liberal in politics. Married to Martine Voyer in 1903. Two sons. Died on May 23, 1934.**Additional Photos:**History of the Province of Alberta v. 1, p. 519Men and makers of Edmonton Souvenir of Alberta, p. 49 **Source of Text:**History of the Province of Alberta v. 1, p. 520Men and makers of Edmonton Souvenir of Alberta, p. 49Edmonton Bulletin, May 25, 1934, p. 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pratt, Bickerton Native of England. Barrister by profession. Came to Canada in 1910 and admitted to Alberta bar in 1911.**Additional Photos:Edmonton Bulletin, December 10, 1921, p. 16Source of Text:**Edmonton Bulletin, December 10, 1921, p. 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | **Prevey, Warren W.**Born in Elroy, Wisconsin, on September 23, 1874; son of Francis and Mary Prevey. Educated in public schools of Wisconsin; graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Came to Edmonton and established Edmonton City Dairy , Limited in 1906, manufacturing butter, cheese, ice cream and similar commodities. Company became one of the largest creameries in Canada. Director of Arctic Ice Company, Limited; president of Western Dairymen's Association, Alberta Dairy Association, and Edmonton Board of Trade. Member of Rotary Club, Liberal Club, Strathcona Liberal Club, Masonic Order, and Methodist Church. Liberal member of Alberta Legislature, 1926-1930. Life director of Edmonton Exhibition Association. Married to Ida E. Preston on December 19, 1900. Five children. Died on February 6, 1948. Wife died on December 1, 1950.**Additional Photos:Edmonton Bulletin, July 10, 1940, p. 13Source of Text:**Alberta past and present v. 2, p. 411-413Edmonton Bulletin, February 9, 1948, p. 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Prudham, William GeorgeBorn in Kilbride, Ontario, on February 27, 1904; son of Charles Albert and Anna Catherine (nee Pickett) Prudham. Educated in public schools at Nelson and Waterdown, Ontario, and Hamilton Technical School. Spent his early life on a farm near Kilbride. Began construction work as apprentice carpenter in Nelson in 1925. Carpenter and later contractor in Waterdown, 1926-1928. Joined Calgary Power Co. in 1928 and worked on the Ghost River Dam project. Left company in 1930 to carry on building and contracting business in Edmonton. Incorporated in 1942 as Prudham Construction Co. Ltd, and started Prudham Building Supplies in 1944. Was also sales manager at Armitage-McBain Lumber Co., 1939-1944. Elected to House of Commons as Liberal candidate for Edmonton West in 1949. Served as Minister of Mines, 1950-1957. President, National House Builders' Association of Canada, member of Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. Freemason, member of the United Church. Married to Alethea Vivian Griggs on April 5, 1934. Two daughters. Died on Saturday, August 24, 1974.**Additional Photos:Edmonton Journal, October 3, 1962, p. 7Source of Text:**Canadian who's who, 1955-1957, p. 889-890Edmonton Journal, August 26, 1974, p. 1, 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Purves, Cecil (Cec) John HarryBorn in Edmonton on October 18, 1933; son of Cecil S. and Elsie Jean (nee Meakins) Purves. Grew up in Riverdale district. Graduated from high school; had taken various self-improvement and business courses throughout the years. Employed with Dominion Bank, 1950-1959, then joined family business, Apex Auto Upholstering Co. Ltd., 1950-1988. Has served on various boards and committees, including St. Joseph's Hospital, Finance Committee, Greater Edmonton Foundation, Edmonton Police Commission, and Emergency Measures Organization. Member of various associations, including Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (past director), Edmonton Exhibition Association (past president), Canadian Mental Health Association (president, director, secretary, treasurer), Edmonton Jaycees (past president) Edmonton Symphony Association (past director). Also served as Bishop, 7th Ward Edmonton, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon). Filed for bankruptcy on March 29, 1988. Married to Clare Heller on December 29, 1956. Four daughters.**Additional Photos:A civic handbook, 1980-83, p. 3Source of Text:**Alberta who’s who 2nd ed, p. 443; 4th ed., p. 319Alberta Report, April 25, 1988, p. 25Who's who in Alberta, 1978-79, p. 392 | | | | | | | | | | | | |