Julia Kiniski (1899 in Poland – October 11, 1969 in Edmonton, Alberta), served seven years on the Edmonton City Council, from 1963 until her death in 1969. Prior to her election in 1963, she ran as an independent or as a candidate for grassroots or reform-minded parties unsuccessfully in 14 city elections between 1945 and 1962.
Julia, born Warshawski, emigrated with the family to Chipman, Alberta in 1912.Steven Verrier, Gene Kiniski. Canadian Wrestling Legend, 2019, pp. 14, 15Merrily K. Aubrey, "Kiniski Gardens", Naming Edmonton: From Ada to Zoie (2004), p. 182. At the age of sixteen she married her husband, Nicholas, with whom she raised six children, including wrestler Gene Kiniski. In 1936, Kiniski and her husband moved to Edmonton.Edmonton Public Library, Election biographies . He worked as a barber, making $5 ($ today) a week, while she sold cosmetics and managed a café. Having dropped out of school after Grade 7, in later life Kiniski "[e]nrolled in University of Alberta Extension courses, studying psychology, philosophy and world affairs".
She campaigned as a candidate for election to Edmonton city council numerous times starting in 1945. Kiniski "became an accomplished, albeit unconventional, speaker". As a politician, she was "[k]nown and loved as supporter of the common people". Her persistence and eventual success spurred renewed civic involvement:
As a member of the city council, "[o]ne of her pet projects... was her fight to support tenants in basement suites".Obituary, Edmonton Journal, October 14, 1969, p. 1,3,10 That is, to allow basement rental suites, which was a way for empty-nesters to cover the cost of housing.
She died of a heart attack at the age of 70 in 1969. She was succeeded in office by her son, Julian Kinisky. He won his mother's old seat in a 1970 by-election.
An elementary school in Edmonton is named for her, as is the neighbourhood of Kiniski Gardens in Mill Woods.
Table of election results
Elections won are in bold. From 1899 to 1963, Edmonton held annual municipal elections, replacing half of the alderman each year. Kiniski stood for election in 14 of 18 elections from 1945 to 1962, winning in her 15th attempt in 1963. Beginning in 1964, all seats were up for election every two years.
Year Party Votes Result1945Independent1,305last place1946Independent2,635last place1947Independent2,133second to last1948Independent1,783third to last1949Independent6,370last place1951Independent5,045last place1953Independent3,471last place1954Independent1,758third to last1956Independent3,999last place1957Independent7,44410th out of 191958Edmonton Voters Association4,2839th out of 141959Edmonton Voters Association9,70311th out of 171961Independent12,4518th out of 181962Civic Rights ProtectiveAssociation12,6438th out of 131963United Voters Association36,8615th out of 141964Civil Rights Association54,6372nd out of a large field1966Civil Rights Association53,9693rd out of a large field1968no affiliation35,7609th out of a large field
References