The 1937 municipal election was held November 10, 1937, to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and five trustees to sit on the public school board, while four trustees were acclaimed to the separate school board. Voters also decided three plebiscite questions.
There were ten aldermen on city council, but four of the positions were already filled: Hugh MacDonald, James Ogilvie, John McCreath, and Athelstan Bissett (representing the South Side) had been elected to two-year terms in 1936 and were still in office. John Wesley Fry had also been elected to a two-year term in 1936, but he resigned to run for mayor; accordingly, Blair Paterson (SS), who polled sixth in this election, was elected to a one-year term to finish off his term.
There were seven trustees on the public school board, but two of the positions were already filled: Izena Ross and Armour Ford had been elected to two-year terms in 1936 and were still in office. Frederick Casselman had also been elected to a two-year term in 1936, but had resigned; accordingly, George Gleave was elected to a one-year term. On the separate school board there were four vacancies, as A J Crowe (SS), J O Pilon, and J O'Hara were continuing.
Voter turnout
There were 24,279 ballots cast out of 51,599 eligible voters, for a voter turnout of 47%.
Results
bold or indicates elected italics indicate incumbent "SS", where data is available, indicates representative for Edmonton's South Side, with a minimum South Side representation instituted after the city of Strathcona, south of the North Saskatchewan River, amalgamated into Edmonton on February 1, 1912.
Mayor
Party Candidate Votes %Citizens' CommitteeJohn Wesley Fry10,48743.63%Edmonton FirstJoseph Clarke7,34030.53%Progressive Civic AssociationGuy Patterson3,41914.22%
Aldermen
Party Candidate Votes ElectedProgressive Civic AssociationHarry Ainlay10,103SSProgressive Civic AssociationJames Findlay8,501Progressive Civic AssociationCharles Gould7,190SSProgressive Civic AssociationElisha East5,323Progressive Civic AssociationWilliam Miller4,551Progressive Civic AssociationCharles Lee4,447New DealJohn James Allen2,036
Public school trustees
Party Candidate Votes ElectedProgressive Civic AssociationSidney Bowcott8,391Progressive Civic AssociationMary Ann Gilchrist5,950Progressive Civic AssociationAdam Bruce5,384Progressive Civic AssociationThomas Housley3,959
Separate (Catholic) school trustees
Hugh Currie, Charles Gariepy, John Whelihan and William Wilde (SS) were acclaimed.
Plebiscites
Mayoral Elections
Are you in favour of the Mayor being elected annually by the members of the City Council from their number? Yes - 4,444 No - 18,383
Airport Hangar
$35,000 for an Airport Hangar Yes - 5,308 No - 1,578
Police Signals
$25,000 for Police Signals Yes - 3,075 No - 3,159
References
Election History, City of Edmonton: Elections and Census Office