# Lethbridge (provincial electoral district)

Lethbridge was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1905 to 1909, and again from 1921 to 1971.

## History

Lethbridge :
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| 1st | 1905–1906 | Leverett George DeVeber | Liberal |
| 1st | 1906–1909 | William Charles Simmons | Liberal |
| District dissolved into Lethbridge City and Lethbridge District |||||
| District re-created from Lethbridge City |||||
| 5th | 1921–1926 | John Smith Stewart | Independent |
| 6th | 1926–1930 | Andrew Smeaton | Dominion Labor |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | Andrew Smeaton | Dominion Labor |
| 8th | 1935–1937 | Hans E. Wight | Social Credit |
| 8th | 1937–1940 | Peter M. Campbell | Independent |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | Peter M. Campbell | Independent |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | John C. Landeryou | Social Credit |
| District dissolved into Lethbridge-East and Lethbridge-West |||||
The riding has existed twice, from 1905 to 1909, and again from 1921 to 1971. The Lethbridge electoral district was founded as one of the original 25 electoral districts contested in the 1905 Alberta general election upon Alberta joining Confederation in September 1905. The electoral district was a continuation of the Lethbridge electoral district responsible for returning a single member to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories from 1891 to 1905.
In 1905, the Lethbridge electoral district covered a large patch of southern Alberta and was subsequently broken into Lethbridge District and Lethbridge City in 1909. After Lethbridge District was broken up into Taber and Little Bow in 1913, Lethbridge City was all that remained, using the Lethbridge name; in 1921 Lethbridge was reformed after City was dropped from the name.
The Lethbridge electoral district was abolished in the 1971 electoral district re-distribution, and the territory was formed into Lethbridge-East and Lethbridge-West electoral districts.
The riding was named after the Southern Alberta City of Lethbridge.

### Representation

Liberal Leverett George DeVeber was elected as the first representative for the Lethbridge electoral district in 1905, DeVeber had previously held the Lethbridge seat in the Northwest Territories Legislature from 1898 to 1905. DeVeber's time as the representative was short as he was appointed to the Senate on March 8, 1906.
He was followed by William Charles Simmons and Donald McNabb.

## Election results
### 1905

vte1905 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Leverett George DeVeber | 639 | 56.55% | – |
| | Conservative | William Carlos Ives | 491 | 43.45% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,130 | – | – |
| 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 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: "Lethbridge Official Results 1905 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1906 by-election

vteAlberta provincial by-election, April 12, 1906 Upon Leverett George DeVeber's appointment to the Senate of Canada on March 8, 1906 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Charles Simmons | 543 | 43.90% | – |
| | Dominion Labor | Frank Henry Sherman | 463 | 37.43% | – |
| | Conservative | A. E. Keffer | 231 | 18.67% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,237 | – | – |
| 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) "By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020. |||||||
In 1908 Simmons resigned. A by-election was scheduled for January 8, 1909. Labour activist Donald McNabb was the only candidate nominated so he won the seat by acclamation.
The district was broken into the Lethbridge District and the Lethbridge City district prior to the next general election.

### 1921

vte1921 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | John Smith Stewart | 2,252 | 62.11% | – |
| | Dominion Labor | John Marsh | 1,374 | 37.89% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,626 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | N/A | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 5,549 | 65.35% | – |
| | Independent pickup new district. | Independent pickup new district. | Independent pickup new district. | Independent pickup new district. | Independent pickup new district. | Independent pickup new district. | Independent pickup new district. |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1926

vte1926 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Dominion Labor | Andrew Smeaton | 1,584 | 37.11% | 1,962 | -0.78% |
| | Conservative | Richard R. Davidson | 1,459 | 34.18% | 1,713 | – |
| | Liberal | Walter S. Galbraith | 1,225 | 28.70% | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,268 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 273 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,353 | 71.48% | 6.13% | – |
| | Dominion Labor gain from Independent | Dominion Labor gain from Independent | Swing | Swing | -10.64% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1926 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. |||||||

### 1930

vte1930 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Dominion Labor | Andrew Smeaton | 2,036 | 43.89% | 2,238 | 6.78% |
| | Independent | William D. L. Hardie | 1,598 | 34.45% | 1,978 | – |
| | Independent | Robert Barrowman | 1,005 | 21.66% | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,639 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 308 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,377 | 67.06% | -4.42% | – |
| | Dominion Labor hold | Dominion Labor hold | Swing | Swing | 3.26% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1930 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. |||||||

### 1935

vte1935 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Hans E. Wight | 3,700 | 55.71% | – |
| | Liberal | Robert Barrowman | 1,946 | 29.30% | – |
| | Dominion Labor | Andrew Smeaton | 654 | 9.85% | -34.04% |
| | Conservative | G. W. Green | 341 | 5.13% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,641 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 182 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,360 | 81.61% | 14.56% |
| | Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor | Social Credit gain from Dominion Labor | Swing | Swing | 8.48% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1937 by-election

vteAlberta provincial by-election, December 2, 1937 Upon the resignation of Hans E. Wight :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Movement | Peter M. Campbell | 4,099 | 55.56% | – |
| | Social Credit | A. J. Burnap | 3,279 | 44.44% | -11.27% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 7,378 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled, and declined | Rejected, spoiled, and declined | Rejected, spoiled, and declined | – | – | – |
| Electors / turnout | Electors / turnout | Electors / turnout | – | – | – |
| | Independent Movement gain from Social Credit | Independent Movement gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | N/A |
| Source(s) "By-elections". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 26, 2020. |||||||

### 1940

vte1940 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent Movement | Peter M. Campbell | 4,318 | 61.01% | 5.55% |
| | Social Credit | A. E. Smith | 2,760 | 38.99% | -5.45% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,078 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 274 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,815 | 83.40% | 1.79% |
| | Independent Movement hold | Independent Movement hold | Swing | Swing | -2.20% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1940 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1944

vte1944 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes 1st count | % | Votes final count | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 2,367 | 37.59% | 2,692 | -1.40% |
| | Independent | David Horton Elton | 2,247 | 35.68% | 2,388 | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | B. F. Tanner | 1,464 | 23.25% | – | – |
| | Labor–Progressive | Eugene Scully | 219 | 3.48% | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,297 | – | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 42 | – | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 9,190 | 68.98% | -14.43% | – |
| | Social Credit gain from Independent Movement | Social Credit gain from Independent Movement | Swing | Swing | -10.05% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1944 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. |||||||

### 1948

vte1948 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 3,829 | 54.40% | 16.82% |
| | Liberal | H. B. McLaughlin | 1,768 | 25.12% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Emil S. Vaselenak | 1,441 | 20.47% | -2.77% |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,038 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 507 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 11,611 | 64.98% | -4.00% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 13.69% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1952

vte1952 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 4,975 | 72.35% | 17.95% |
| | Liberal | Rex J. Tennant | 1,901 | 27.65% | 2.53% |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,876 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 658 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 14,018 | 53.75% | -11.24% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 7.71% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1955

vte1955 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 4,788 | 50.28% | -22.07% |
| | Liberal | Alan Cullen | 3,361 | 35.30% | 7.65% |
| | Conservative | C.J. Black | 883 | 9.27% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | James E. Helwig | 490 | 5.15% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,522 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 418 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 15,635 | 63.58% | 9.83% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -14.86% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1959

vte1959 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 7,250 | 62.01% | 11.72% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Thomas Spanos | 2,917 | 24.95% | – |
| | Liberal | Robery Henry Jeacock | 1,525 | 13.04% | -22.25% |
| Total | Total | Total | 11,692 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 45 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 18,119 | 64.78% | 1.20% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 11.04% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1963

vte1963 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 6,975 | 60.23% | -1.78% |
| | Liberal | Alan Cullen | 3,786 | 32.69% | 19.65% |
| | New Democratic | James Taylor | 820 | 7.08% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 11,581 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 34 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 20,117 | 57.74% | -7.04% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -4.76% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1967

vte1967 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | John C. Landeryou | 6,155 | 44.42% | -15.80% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Wilfred Browns | 4,128 | 29.79% | – |
| | Liberal | John I. Boras | 2,237 | 16.15% | -16.55% |
| | New Democratic | Klaas Buijert | 1,335 | 9.64% | 2.55% |
| Total | Total | Total | 13,855 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 49 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 21,449 | 64.82% | 7.09% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -6.45% |
| Source(s) Source: "Lethbridge Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

## Plebiscite results
### 1923 prohibition plebiscite

| Options presented on the ballot | Votes | % |
| (a) Prohibition - Meaning thereby a continuance and development of present Liquor Legislation; that is, meaning the Abolition of the Sale of all Liquors excepting for strictly Medicinal Sacramental, Manufacturing and Scientific Purposes. | 1,342 | % |
| (b) Licensed Sale of Beer - Meaning thereby, the Sale of Beer in Licensed Hotels and other Premises, as provided in the proposed Temperance Act. | 56 | % |
| (c) Government Sale of Beer - Meaning thereby, the Sale of Beer by or through Government Vendors for consumption in Private Residences under Government Control and Regulations - other Liquors to be sold through Doctor's Prescription for Medicinal Purposes. | 53 | % |
| (d) Government Sale of All Liquors - Meaning thereby, the Sale of all Liquors by or through Government Vendors. Beer to be consumed on Licensed Premises and in Private Residences. Wines and Spirits to be purchased in limited quantities under permit issued by the government, under Government Control and Regulations. | 3,157 | % |
| Total | 4,914 | 100% |
| Spoiled ballots | 307 | 307 |

### 1948 electrification plebiscite

District results from the first province wide plebiscite on electricity regulation.
| Option A | Option B |
| Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being continued by the Power Companies? | Are you in favour of the generation and distribution of electricity being made a publicly owned utility administered by the Alberta Government Power Commission? |
| 4,237 64.90% | 2,291 35.10% |
| Province wide result: Option A passed. ||

### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Lethbridge :
| 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 | % |
| | No | 4,119 | 50.66% |
| | Yes | 4,012 | 49.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 8,131 | 100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 66 | 66 |
| 15,974 eligible electors, turnout 51.32% ||||
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. Lethbridge and Wetaskiwin were the only cities in Alberta to vote against the proposal. It was defeated by the narrowest margins with polls showing a clear split between the north and south sections of the city. The voter turnout in the district was well above the province wide average of 46% with well over half the electors turning out to vote.
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 such as Lethbridge 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.