# 13th Alberta Legislature

The 13th Alberta Legislative Assembly was in session from August 17, 1955, to May 9, 1959, with the membership of the assembly determined by the results of the 1955 Alberta general election held on June 29, 1955. The Legislature officially resumed on August 17, 1955, and continued until the fifth session was prorogued on April 7, 1959, and dissolved on May 9, 1959, prior to the 1959 Alberta general election.
Alberta's thirteenth government was controlled by the majority Social Credit Party for the sixth time, led by Premier Ernest Manning who would go on to be the longest serving Premier in Alberta history. The Official Opposition was led by James Harper Prowse a member of the Alberta Liberal Party until the fifth session when Grant MacEwan became the leader of the Official Opposition. The Speaker was Peter Dawson who would serve until his death during the 15th legislature on March 24, 1963.

## Membership in the 13th Alberta Legislature

| District | Member | Party | First elected/ previously elected |
| Acadia-Coronation | James Sims | Liberal | 1955 |
| Alexandra | Anders Aalborg | Social Credit | 1948 |
| Athabasca | Richard Hall | Liberal | 1955 |
| Banff-Cochrane | Frank Gainer | Coalition | 1955 |
| Bonnyville | Jake Josvanger | Liberal | 1955 |
| Bow Valley-Empress | Bryce Stringam | Independent | 1955 |
| Bruce | Earl Hardy | Social Credit | 1948 |
| Calgary | Arthur Ryan Smith | Conservative | 1955 |
| Calgary | Hugh John MacDonald | Liberal | 1948 |
| Calgary | Frederick C. Colborne | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Calgary | Rose Wilkinson | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Calgary | Grant MacEwan | Liberal | 1955 |
| Calgary | Arthur J. Dixon | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Calgary | Ernest Watkins (1957) | Conservative | 1957 |
| Camrose | Chester Sayers | Social Credit | 1941 |
| Cardston | Edgar Hinman | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Clover Bar | Floyd Baker | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Cypress | Harry Strom | Social Credit | 1955 |
| Didsbury | James Lawrence Owens | Social Credit | 1955 |
| Drumheller | Gordon Taylor | Social Credit | 1940 |
| Edmonton | Ernest Manning | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Edmonton | James Harper Prowse | Liberal | 1944 |
| Edmonton | Abe Miller | Liberal | 1955 |
| Edmonton | Harold Tanner | Liberal | 1952 |
| Edmonton | Joseph Donovan Ross | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Edmonton | John Page | Conservative | 1940, 1952 |
| Edmonton | Edgar Gerhart | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Edson | Norman Willmore | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Gleichen | George E. Bell | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Grande Prairie | Ira McLaughlin | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Grouard | Joseph Desfosses | Liberal | 1951 |
| Hand Hills | Wallace Warren Cross | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Lac La Biche | Michael Maccagno | Liberal | 1955 |
| Lac Ste. Anne | John Mills | Liberal | 1955 |
| Lacombe | Allen Patrick | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Leduc | Ronald Ansley | Independent Social Credit | 1935 |
| Lethbridge | John Landeryou | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Little Bow | Peter Dawson | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Macleod | James Hartley | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Medicine Hat | Elizabeth Robinson | Social Credit | 1953 |
| Okotoks-High River | Ross Ellis | Liberal and Conservative Coalition | 1955 |
| Olds | Frederick Niddrie | Social Credit | 1950 |
| Olds | Roderick Macleod (1959) | Social Credit | 1959 |
| Peace River | William Gilliland | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Pembina | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit | 1944 |
| Pincher Creek-Crowsnest | William Kovach | Social Credit | 1948 |
| Ponoka | Glen Johnston | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Red Deer | Cam Kirby | Conservative | 1954 |
| Redwater | Alfred Macyk | Liberal | 1955 |
| Rocky Mountain House | Alfred Hooke | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Sedgewick | Jack Hillman | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Spirit River | Adolph Fimrite | Social Credit | 1952 |
| St. Albert | Arthur Soetaert | Liberal | 1955 |
| St. Paul | Raymond Reierson | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Stettler | John Clark | Social Credit | 1952 |
| Stettler | Galen Norris (1956) | Social Credit | 1956 |
| Stony Plain | John McLaughlin | Liberal | 1955 |
| Taber | Roy Lee | Social Credit | 1940 |
| Vegreville | Stanley Ruzycki | Cooperative Commonwealth | 1955 |
| Vermilion | Russell Whitson | Liberal | 1955 |
| Wainwright | Henry Ruste | Liberal | 1955 |
| Warner | Leonard Halmrast | Social Credit | 1945 |
| Wetaskiwin | John Wingblade | Social Credit | 1935 |
| Willingdon | Nick Dushenski | Co-operative Commonwealth | 1952 |
Notes:

## Standings changes since the 13th general election

| Affiliation | Affiliation | Members |
| | Social Credit | 37 |
| | Liberal | 15 |
| | Progressive Conservative | 3 |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | 2 |
| | Liberal + Progressive Conservative$^1$ | 1 |
| | Coalition | 1 |
| | Independent Social Credit | 1 |
| Total | Total | 61 |
* The candidate in Okotoks-High River was jointly nominated by the Progressive Conservative and Liberal parties.
Membership changes in the 13th Assembly :
| Date | Name | District | Party | Reason |
| June 29, 1955 | See List of Members | See List of Members | See List of Members | Election day of the 13th Alberta general election |
| June 3, 1956 | John Clark | Stettler | Social Credit | Committed suicide after murdering seven people |
| November 15, 1956 | Galen Norris | Stettler | Social Credit | Elected in a by-election |
| 1957 | Arthur Smith | Calgary | Progressive Conservative | Vacated his seat to run in the 1957 federal election. |
| October 2, 1957 | Ernest Watkins | Calgary | Progressive Conservative | Elected in a by-election |
| December 19, 1958 | Frederick Niddrie | Olds | Social Credit | Died |
| February 9, 1959 | Roderick Macleod | Olds | Social Credit | Elected in a by-election |