# Vermilion (provincial electoral district)

Vermilion was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada, mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1971.

## History

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Vermilion :
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| 1st | 1905–1906 | Matthew McCauley (politician) | Liberal |
| 1st | 1906–1909 | James Bismark Holden | Liberal |
| 2nd | 1909–1910 | Archibald Campbell | Liberal |
| 2nd | 1910–1913 | Arthur Lewis Sifton | Liberal |
| 3rd | 1913–1917 | Arthur Lewis Sifton | Liberal |
| 4th | 1917–1917 | Arthur Lewis Sifton | Liberal |
| 4th | 1917–1921 | Arthur W. Ebbett | Liberal |
| 5th | 1921–1926 | Richard Gavin Reid | United Farmers |
| 6th | 1926–1930 | Richard Gavin Reid | United Farmers |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | Richard Gavin Reid | United Farmers |
| 8th | 1935–1940 | William A. Fallow | Social Credit |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | William A. Fallow | Social Credit |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | William R. Cornish | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | William R. Cornish | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | William R. Cornish | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Russell J. Whitson | Liberal |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | Ashley Cooper | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | Ashley Cooper | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | Ashley Cooper | Social Credit |
| See Vermilion-Viking electoral district from 1971-1993 |||||
Vermilion was one of the original 25 electoral districts contested in the 1905 Alberta general election upon Alberta joining Confederation in September 1905. In the 1970 electoral district re-distribution, the Vermilion electoral district would be abolished and would be reformed as Vermilion-Viking, the boundaries for the new district would be a continuation of the Vermilion boundaries as adjusted prior to the 1963 Alberta general election.

### Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Matthew McCauley was elected as the first member for the Vermilion district, he had previously served as the first Mayor of Edmonton and member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for the Edmonton electoral district. McCauley's time in the Alberta Legislature was limited to less than a year when he resigned his seat in 1906 after his appointment to be Warden of the Edmonton Penitentiary, the first of its kind in Alberta.

## Election results
### 1905

The returning officer for the 1905 election was Thomas J. Cunningham.
vte1905 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Matthew McCauley | 673 | 73.07% | – |
| | Conservative | Frank Fane | 248 | 26.93% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 921 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 921 | N/A | – |
| | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. | Liberal pickup new district. |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1906 by-election

vteAlberta provincial by-election, July 16, 1906 Upon Matthew McCauley's appointment as warden of Edmonton Penitentiary :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Bismark Holden | Acclaimed | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | N/A | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | – |
| Source(s) "By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020. |||||||

### 1909

vte1909 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Archibald Campbell | 919 | 66.55% | -6.53% |
| | Conservative | Rev. Albert Richard Aldridge | 462 | 33.45% | 6.53% |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,381 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -6.53% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1910 by-election

vteAlberta provincial by-election, June 29, 1910 Upon Archibald Campbell's resignation to provide a seat for the new Premier on June 8, 1910 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Lewis Sifton | 1,018 | 58.91% | – |
| | Conservative | J. George Clark | 710 | 41.09% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,728 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | N/A |
| Source(s) "Past By-Election results". Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 12, 2020. Mardon, p. 129 |||||||

### 1913

vte1913 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Lewis Sifton | 772 | 47.68% | -18.86% |
| | Conservative | J. George Clark | 571 | 35.27% | 1.81% |
| | Independent | Gregory Krikevsky | 276 | 17.05% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,619 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -10.34% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1917

vte1917 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Lewis Sifton | 2,063 | 63.03% | 15.35% |
| | Conservative | John B. Burch | 1,210 | 36.97% | 1.70% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,273 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | 6.82% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1917 by-election

vteAlberta provincial by-election, November 19, 1917 Upon the resignation of Arthur Lewis Sifton on October 12, 1917 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur W. Ebbett | Acclaimed | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | N/A | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | N/A |
| Source(s) "Past By-Election results". Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 12, 2020. |||||||

### 1921

vte1921 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Richard Gavin Reid | 2,955 | 75.89% | – |
| | Liberal | Arthur W. Ebbett | 939 | 24.11% | -38.92% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,894 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | United Farmers gain from Liberal | United Farmers gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | 12.86% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1921 by-election

vteAlberta provincial by-election, December 9, 1921 Ministerial by-election upon Richard Gavin Reid being appointed to Cabinet :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Richard Gavin Reid | Acclaimed | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | N/A | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | N/A | N/A | – |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | N/A |
| Source(s) "Past By-Election results". Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 12, 2020. |||||||

### 1926

vte1926 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Richard Gavin Reid | 1,981 | 64.63% | -11.25% |
| | Conservative | W. J. MacNab | 592 | 19.31% | – |
| | Liberal | Arthur W. Ebbett | 492 | 16.05% | -8.06% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,065 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 232 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,886 | 67.48% | – |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | -3.23% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1930

vte1930 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | Richard Gavin Reid | 2,551 | 75.79% | 11.15% |
| | Liberal | Robert B. Hall | 815 | 24.21% | 8.16% |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,366 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 139 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 5,624 | 62.32% | -5.16% |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | 3.13% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1935

vte1935 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Social Credit | William A. Fallow | 2,452 | 44.81% | 2,664 | – |
| | Liberal | Arthur P. Hunter | 1,062 | 19.41% | 1,437 | -4.80% |
| | United Farmers | Richard Gavin Reid | 876 | 16.01% | – | -59.78% |
| | Communist | William Halina | 838 | 15.31% | – | – |
| | Conservative | Albert E. Williams | 244 | 4.46% | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,472 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 172 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,816 | 82.81% | 20.48% | – |
| | Social Credit gain from United Farmers | Social Credit gain from United Farmers | Swing | Swing | -13.09% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. Mardon 130Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes. As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality. |||||||

### 1940

vte1940 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Social Credit | William A. Fallow | 2,203 | 44.47% | 2,506 | -0.34% |
| | Independent | S. C. Heckbert | 1,815 | 36.64% | 2,148 | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | J. T. McDuffe | 936 | 18.89% | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,954 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 179 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,721 | 76.37% | -6.43% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -8.78% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes. As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality. |||||||

### 1944

vte1944 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | William R. Cornish | 2,239 | 52.94% | 8.47% |
| | Labor–Progressive | William M. Teresio | 999 | 23.62% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | L. E. Larcombe | 991 | 23.43% | 4.54% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,229 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 40 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,260 | 68.19% | -8.18% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 10.74% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1948

vte1948 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Social Credit | William R. Cornish | 1,999 | 46.10% | 2,196 | -6.84% |
| | Liberal | William H. Chorney | 1,179 | 27.19% | 1,323 | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Roy William Hay | 1,158 | 26.71% | 3.27% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,336 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 245 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,372 | 71.89% | 3.70% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -5.20% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes. As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality. |||||||

### 1952

vte1952 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Social Credit | William R. Cornish | 1,955 | 48.70% | 2,058 | 2.60% |
| | Liberal | George Kravetz | 835 | 20.80% | 983 | -6.39% |
| | Farmer | John P. Hocaluk | 655 | 16.32% | 713 | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Edwin Barber | 569 | 14.18% | – | -12.53% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,014 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 249 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,432 | 66.28% | -5.61% | – |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 4.50% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes. As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality. |||||||

### 1955

vte1955 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Liberal | Russell J. Whitson | 1,728 | 36.48% | 2,131 | 15.68% |
| | Social Credit | Ashley Cooper | 2,018 | 42.60% | 2,111 | -6.10% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | M. Meronyk | 684 | 14.44% | – | 0.26% |
| | Labor–Progressive | John P. Hocaluk | 307 | 6.48% | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,737 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 310 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,692 | 75.42% | 9.14% | – |
| | Liberal gain from Social Credit | Liberal gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | -10.89% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.Instant-runoff voting requires a candidate to receive a plurality (greater than 50%) of the votes. As no candidate received a plurality of votes, the bottom candidate was eliminated and their 2nd place votes were applied to both other candidates until one received a plurality. |||||||

### 1959

vte1959 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Ashley Cooper | 2,204 | 49.48% | 6.88% |
| | Liberal | Russell J. Whitson | 1,224 | 27.48% | -9.00% |
| | Progressive Conservative | D. J. Frunchak | 799 | 17.94% | – |
| | Labor–Progressive | John P. Hocaluk | 227 | 5.10% | -1.38% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,454 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 12 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,162 | 72.48% | -2.94% |
| | Social Credit gain from Liberal | Social Credit gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | 7.94% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1963

vte1963 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Ashley Cooper | 2,964 | 68.20% | 18.72% |
| | Liberal | Arthur W. Roland | 837 | 19.26% | -8.22% |
| | New Democratic | Edward Thompson | 545 | 12.54% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,346 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 8 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,605 | 65.92% | -6.56% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 13.47% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1967

vte1967 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Ashley Cooper | 2,545 | 58.03% | -10.18% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Hilda Wilson | 1,199 | 27.34% | – |
| | New Democratic | Harry E. Yaremchuk | 642 | 14.64% | 2.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,386 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 17 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,398 | 68.82% | 2.90% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -9.13% |
| Source(s) Source: "Vermilion Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

## Plebiscite results
### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Vermilion :
| Question A: Do you approve additional types of outlets for the sale of beer, wine and spirituous liquor subject to a local vote? ||||
| Ballot choice | Ballot choice | Votes | % |
| | Yes | 1,258 | 53.92% |
| | No | 1,075 | 46.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,333 | 100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 15 | 15 |
| 5,758 eligible electors, turnout 40.79% ||||
On October 30, 1957 a stand-alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive debate in the Legislature. The plebiscite was intended to deal with the growing demand for reforming antiquated liquor control laws.
The plebiscite was conducted in two parts. Question A asked in all districts, asked the voters if the sale of liquor should be expanded in Alberta, while Question B asked in a handful of districts within the corporate limits of Calgary and Edmonton asked if men and woman were allowed to drink together in establishments.
Province wide Question A of the plebiscite passed in 33 of the 50 districts while Question B passed in all five districts. Vermilion voted in favour of the proposal with a slight majority. Voter turnout in the district was very low, falling well under the province-wide average of 46%.
Official district returns were released to the public on December 31, 1957. The Social Credit government in power at the time did not considered the results binding. However the results of the vote led the government to repeal all existing liquor legislation and introduce an entirely new Liquor Act.
Municipal districts lying inside electoral districts that voted against the Plebiscite were designated Local Option Zones by the Alberta Liquor Control Board and considered effective dry zones, business owners that wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.