Cec Purves
Encyclopedia
Cecil John Harry Purves (born October 18, 1933) is a politician in Alberta
, Canada
, who served as mayor of Edmonton
.
and graduated high school in the city. On December 29, 1956 he married Clare Heller, with whom he would have four daughters.
He worked for the Dominion Bank from 1950 until 1959, and worked for his family's upholstering firm, Apex Auto Upholstering, from 1950 until 1988.
Purves did not graduate from university, but has taken a variety of business and self-improvement courses.
, when he ran unsuccessfully for Protestant school trustee. He finished eleventh of twenty-one candidates; the top seven were elected.
He ran for Edmonton City Council
instead in the 1966 election
, and was elected as one of twelve aldermen, finishing ninth of thirty-two candidates. He was re-elected in the 1968 election
, finishing fifth out of thirty-two candidates. While still in office, he sought the Social Credit
nomination in Edmonton-Strathcona
for the 1971 provincial election
, but was defeated by Strathcona Centre
incumbent Joseph Donovan Ross
(who was defeated in the general election by Progressive Conservative
Julian Koziak
). In the 1971 election
, Edmonton was for the first time divided into aldermanic wards; three aldermen would be elected from each of the four wards. Purves ran in Ward 2, and finished first out of eleven candidates.
In the 1974 election
, Purves ran for mayor, challenging incumbent Ivor Dent
. He defeated Dent, but so did William Hawrelak
, who received more than twice as many votes as Purves. Hawrelak died in office and was replaced by alderman Terry Cavanagh
, who Purves challenged for mayor in the 1977 election
. In winning, he beat not only Cavanagh (who finished third) but Dent (who finished fourth) and future mayor Laurence Decore
(who finished second). Purves faced no serious opposition to his 1980 re-election bid
, and won more than seventy percent of the vote.
The highlight of Purves' terms as mayor were the 1978 Commonwealth Games
and the accompanying opening of Commonwealth Stadium
.
Purves was defeated in the 1983 election
by Decore, who received more than twice as many votes as the incumbent. He did not seek to re-enter politics thereafter.
board. He was at various times president of the Edmonton Exhibition Association, and the Edmonton Jaycees (a youth association). He was also bishop of the 7th Ward (Edmonton) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He filed for bankruptcy on March 29, 1988.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who served as mayor of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
Early life
Purves was born in Edmonton on October 18, 1933. He grew up in the city's Riverdale districtRiverdale, Edmonton
Riverdale is a river valley neighbourhood located just east of the downtown core in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Its boundaries on the east and south are the North Saskatchewan River. Immediately across the river to the south is another Edmonton river valley neighbourhood--Cloverdale...
and graduated high school in the city. On December 29, 1956 he married Clare Heller, with whom he would have four daughters.
He worked for the Dominion Bank from 1950 until 1959, and worked for his family's upholstering firm, Apex Auto Upholstering, from 1950 until 1988.
Purves did not graduate from university, but has taken a variety of business and self-improvement courses.
Political career
Purves' first bid for political office took place during the 1964 municipal electionEdmonton municipal election, 1964
The 1964 Edmonton municipal election was held October 14, 1964 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
, when he ran unsuccessfully for Protestant school trustee. He finished eleventh of twenty-one candidates; the top seven were elected.
He ran for Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
instead in the 1966 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1966
The 1966 municipal election was held October 19, 1966 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
, and was elected as one of twelve aldermen, finishing ninth of thirty-two candidates. He was re-elected in the 1968 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1968
The 1968 municipal election was held October 16, 1968 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards. The electorate also decided three plebiscite questions....
, finishing fifth out of thirty-two candidates. While still in office, he sought the Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Alberta
The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values....
nomination in Edmonton-Strathcona
Edmonton-Strathcona (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton-Strathcona is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. It shares the same name as the federal electoral district of Edmonton—Strathcona....
for the 1971 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1971
The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, but was defeated by Strathcona Centre
Strathcona Centre
Strathcona Centre was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, CanadaIt was created in 1959 after the Edmonton district, broke up into ridings....
incumbent Joseph Donovan Ross
Joseph Donovan Ross
Joseph Donovan Ross was a medical doctor and a former provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1952 to 1971. He also served as Minister of Health in the Alberta provincial government.-Political career:Ross first ran for...
(who was defeated in the general election by Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
Julian Koziak
Julian Koziak
Julian Koziak is a former provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1971 until 1986.-Political career:...
). In the 1971 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1971
The 1971 municipal election was held October 13, 1971 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards.This was the first election in which a ward system was used...
, Edmonton was for the first time divided into aldermanic wards; three aldermen would be elected from each of the four wards. Purves ran in Ward 2, and finished first out of eleven candidates.
In the 1974 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1974
The 1974 municipal election was held October 16, 1974 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and seven trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards.-Voter turnout:...
, Purves ran for mayor, challenging incumbent Ivor Dent
Ivor Dent
Ivor Graham Dent, was a politician from Alberta, Canada, a mayor of Edmonton, and a former candidate for the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Early life:...
. He defeated Dent, but so did William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak
William Hawrelak was a politician in Alberta, Canada, the longest-serving mayor in Edmonton's history, and a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons.-Early life:...
, who received more than twice as many votes as Purves. Hawrelak died in office and was replaced by alderman Terry Cavanagh
Terry Cavanagh
Terence James Cavanagh is a Canadian politician, municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta, who served as mayor. He was Edmonton's first native-born mayor.-Early life:...
, who Purves challenged for mayor in the 1977 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1977
The 1977 municipal election was held October 19, 1977 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board....
. In winning, he beat not only Cavanagh (who finished third) but Dent (who finished fourth) and future mayor Laurence Decore
Laurence Decore
Laurence G. Decore, CM was a Ukrainian-Canadian lawyer and politician from Alberta. He was mayor of Edmonton, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.- Early life :...
(who finished second). Purves faced no serious opposition to his 1980 re-election bid
Edmonton municipal election, 1980
The 1980 municipal election was held October 15, 1980 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board....
, and won more than seventy percent of the vote.
The highlight of Purves' terms as mayor were the 1978 Commonwealth Games
1978 Commonwealth Games
The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
and the accompanying opening of Commonwealth Stadium
Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)
Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
.
Purves was defeated in the 1983 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1983
The 1983 municipal election was held October 17, 1983 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council in Alberta, Canada, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board.-Voter turnout:...
by Decore, who received more than twice as many votes as the incumbent. He did not seek to re-enter politics thereafter.
Retirement and extra-political involvement
Purves served as a member of the St. Joseph's Hospital board, the Edmonton Police Commission, the Greater Edmonton Foundation board, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and the Edmonton Symphony SocietyEdmonton Symphony Orchestra
As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to country...
board. He was at various times president of the Edmonton Exhibition Association, and the Edmonton Jaycees (a youth association). He was also bishop of the 7th Ward (Edmonton) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He filed for bankruptcy on March 29, 1988.