1884 Calgary municipal election


The 1884 Calgary municipal election was held on December 3, 1884 to elect a Mayor and four Councillors to sit on the first Calgary Town Council from December 4, 1884 to January 18, 1886.

Background

Calgary was officially incorporated as Town of Calgary under provisions of the newly passed Northwest Territories Municipal Ordinance of 1884 on November 17, 1884.
Voting rights were provided to any male British subject over twenty-one years of age who are assessed on the last revised assessment roll with a minimum property value of $300.
The election was held under Multiple non-transferable vote where each elector was able to cast a ballot for the mayor and up to four ballots for separate councillors.

Length of Council Term

The first municipal council for the Town of Calgary was intended to sit from December 4, 1884 to January 18, 1886, however judicial interference by stipendiary magistrate Jeremiah Travis in the January 1886 election resulted in Territorial Ordinance 1-1886 "An Ordinance Respecting Municipal Matters in the Town of Calgary" voiding the results of the January 1886 election and declaring no council or mayor for the Town of Calgary exists.
The City of Calgary recognizes George Murdoch as Mayor of the Town of Calgary from December 4, 1884 to October 21, 1886, which implies the City either recognizes Murdoch as the winner of the January 1886 election, or recognizes Murdoch remained Mayor until the November 1886 election.

Results

Councillors

1885 Council By-election

Simon Jackson Hogg would resign from council effective May 20, 1885. A by-election was scheduled for June 17, 1885, and following nominations Isaac Sanford Freeze was acclaimed and installed June 10, 1885.