# Pembina (Alberta provincial electoral district)

Pembina was a provincial electoral district in Alberta mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1971.

## History

The Pembina electoral district was formed prior to the 1909 Alberta general election from the western portion of the St. Albert electoral district. The district would be abolished prior to the 1971 Alberta general election, and be incorporated into Barrhead and Athabasca.

### Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)

Members of the Legislative Assembly for Pembina :
| Assembly | Years | Member | Party |
| 2nd | 1909–1913 | Henry William McKenney | Liberal |
| 3rd | 1913–1917 | Gordon MacDonald | Liberal |
| 4th | 1917–1921 | Gordon MacDonald | Liberal |
| 5th | 1921–1926 | George MacLachlan | United Farmers |
| 6th | 1926–1930 | George MacLachlan | United Farmers |
| 7th | 1930–1935 | George MacLachlan | United Farmers |
| 8th | 1935–1940 | Harry Knowlton Brown | Social Credit |
| 9th | 1940–1944 | George MacLachlan | Independent |
| 10th | 1944–1948 | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit |
| 11th | 1948–1952 | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit |
| 12th | 1952–1955 | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit |
| 13th | 1955–1959 | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit |
| 14th | 1959–1963 | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit |
| 15th | 1963–1967 | Robin Jorgenson | Social Credit |
| 16th | 1967–1971 | Carl A. Muller | Social Credit |
| See Barrhead electoral district from 1971-1993 and Athabasca electoral district from 1971-1986 |||||

## Election results
### 1909

vte1909 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry William McKenney | 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 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: "Pembina Official Results 1909 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1913

vte1913 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gordon Macdonald | 432 | 50.64% | – |
| | Conservative | F. D. Armitage | 421 | 49.36% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 853 | – | – |
| 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) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1917

vte1917 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gordon Macdonald | 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) Source: "Hand Hills Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. One of eleven Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta acclaimed under The Elections Act Section 38, which stipulated that any member of the 3rd Alberta Legislative Assembly would be guaranteed re-election, with no contest held, if the member joined for wartime service in the First World War. An Act amending The Election Act respecting Members of the Legislative Assembly on Active Service., SA 1917, c. 38 |||||||

### 1921

vte1921 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | George MacLachlan | 1,838 | 72.85% | – |
| | Liberal | Dr. Phillips | 540 | 21.40% | – |
| | Independent | F. D. Armitage | 145 | 5.75% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,523 | – | – |
| 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 | N/A |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1926

vte1926 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | George MacLachlan | 1,930 | 59.51% | -13.34% |
| | Liberal | E. F. Henderson | 886 | 27.32% | 5.92% |
| | Conservative | A. D. Henderson | 427 | 13.17% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,243 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 153 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,521 | 75.12% | – |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | -9.63% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1926 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1930

vte1930 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | United Farmers | George MacLachlan | 2,094 | 64.35% | 4.84% |
| | Independent | H. G. Curlett | 1,160 | 35.65% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,254 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 120 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 4,982 | 67.72% | -7.39% |
| | United Farmers hold | United Farmers hold | Swing | Swing | -1.74% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1930 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1935

vte1935 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Harry Knowlton Brown | 3,133 | 57.06% | – |
| | Liberal | H. B. Fraser | 1,145 | 20.85% | – |
| | United Farmers | George MacLachlan | 1,030 | 18.76% | -45.59% |
| | Conservative | M. G. H. Cardann | 183 | 3.33% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,491 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 227 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,140 | 80.08% | 12.36% |
| | Social Credit gain from United Farmers | Social Credit gain from United Farmers | Swing | Swing | 3.75% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1940

vte1940 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| First count ||||||
| | Independent | George MacLachlan | 1,719 | 42.43% | – |
| | Social Credit | Harry Knowlton Brown | 1,589 | 39.22% | -17.84% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | W. Mentz | 743 | 18.34% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,051 | – | – |
| Ballot transfer results ||||||
| | Independent | George MacLachlan | 1,980 | 52.13% | – |
| | Social Credit | Harry Knowlton Brown | 1,818 | 47.87% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 3,798 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 244 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,152 | 60.05% | -20.03% |
| | Independent gain from Social Credit | Independent gain from Social Credit | Swing | Swing | -2.00% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina 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 | Robin Jorgenson | 2,400 | 50.87% | 11.65% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Chas. P. Paterson | 1,498 | 31.75% | 13.41% |
| | Independent | George MacLachlan | 820 | 17.38% | -25.05% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,718 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 242 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 6,962 | 71.24% | -20.03% |
| | Social Credit gain from Independent | Social Credit gain from Independent | Swing | Swing | 7.70% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1944 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1948

vte1948 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Robin Jorgenson | 3,165 | 59.59% | 8.72% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Martin Fjelstad | 1,462 | 27.53% | -4.22% |
| | Liberal | E. W. Munsterman | 684 | 12.88% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,311 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 386 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,829 | 72.77% | 1.52% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 6.47% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1948 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1952

vte1952 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Robin Jorgenson | 2,818 | 57.67% | -1.92% |
| | Liberal | Matthew M. Watt | 1,127 | 23.07% | 10.19% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | William H. Roberts | 941 | 19.26% | -8.27% |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,886 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 379 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,577 | 69.49% | -3.28% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 1.27% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1952 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1955

vte1955 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Robin Jorgenson | 2,609 | 50.59% | -7.08% |
| | Liberal | George Schultz | 1,708 | 33.12% | 10.05% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Martin Felstad | 840 | 16.29% | -2.97% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,157 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 465 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,715 | 72.87% | 3.38% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -8.57% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1955 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1959

vte1959 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Robin Jorgenson | 3,436 | 61.80% | 11.21% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Frie Bredo | 1,708 | 30.72% | – |
| | Liberal | Gustav Wahl | 416 | 7.48% | -25.64% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,560 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 27 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 7,693 | 72.62% | -0.25% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 6.80% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1959 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1963

vte1963 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Robin Jorgenson | 3,067 | 56.18% | -5.62% |
| | Liberal | Dr. Ray Brodeur | 842 | 15.42% | 7.94% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Percy Baxandall | 823 | 15.08% | -15.64% |
| | New Democratic | Herman Hauch | 562 | 10.29% | – |
| | Independent Social Credit | Verdun Baxandall | 165 | 3.02% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,459 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 39 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,850 | 62.12% | -10.50% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | 4.84% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1963 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

### 1967

vte1967 Alberta general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Social Credit | Carl A. Muller | 2,866 | 49.46% | -6.73% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Edward G. Samuel | 2,098 | 36.20% | 21.13% |
| | New Democratic | George A. E. Garnett | 576 | 9.94% | -0.36% |
| | Liberal | Edward P. MacCallum | 255 | 4.40% | -11.02% |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,795 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 273 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 8,945 | 67.84% | 5.71% |
| | Social Credit hold | Social Credit hold | Swing | Swing | -13.75% |
| Source(s) Source: "Pembina Official Results 1967 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||

## Plebiscite results
### 1957 liquor plebiscite

1957 Alberta liquor plebiscite results: Pembina :
| 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 | 1,375 | 52.12% |
| | No | 1,263 | 47.88% |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,638 | 100% |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 75 | 75 |
| 7,240 eligible electors, turnout 37.47% ||||
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 women should be 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. Pembina voted in favour of the proposal by a narrow margin. Voter turnout in the district was poor, as it fell significantly below 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 consider 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 who wanted a license had to petition for a binding municipal plebiscite in order to be granted a license.