Joseph Henri Picard
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henri Picard was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a municipal councillor in Edmonton
.
on February 18, 1857. He apprenticed as a carpenter before coming west in 1884 to Fort Qu'Appelle
and then Regina
. In Calgary
, he met Father Albert Lacombe
, who suggested to him that he move to Edmonton, which he did in 1887. Once in Edmonton, he opened a general store, Larue & Picard; it was sold in 1907 when both he and his partner retired.
In 1903, he married Martine Voyer. The couple had two sons.
His political career began in 1894
when he was elected as an alderman to Edmonton Town Council, finishing fifth of nine candidates in an election in which the top six were elected. He was re-elected in 1895
, but defeated in 1896
, placing seventh of eight candidates. He placed dead last of nine candidates in the following election
, but returned to council in 1897
, placing third of nine candidates.
In 1898
, when staggered aldermanic terms were introduced, the top three finishers in the election were elected to two year terms, while the bottom three were elected to one year terms. Picard was one of the latter, and ceased to be an alderman in 1899. His next attempt at election took place in 1902
, when he placed last of five candidates. He was elected again in 1903
, finishing third of nine and being elected to a two year term. However, this term was truncated when Edmonton became a city in 1904 and a new, eight member city council
was elected. In that year's election
, Picard finished sixth of seventeen candidates, and was elected to another one year term (the top four candidates won two year terms). He was re-elected to a two year term in 1905
, placing fourth of ten candidates.
At the expiration of this term in 1907
, Picard ran for mayor, but was defeated by John Alexander McDougall
. He stayed out of politics for seven years thereafter.
In 1914
, Picard returned to office, finishing fourth of fourteen candidates. However, he was defeated in his 1916
re-election bid, finishing seventh of eleven candidates. This marked the end of his career in municipal politics.
Joseph Henri Picard was a member of the Catholic school board from 1899 until 1925, and was also active with the Board of Trade, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, the Edmonton Club, the Edmonton Exhibition Board, l'Alliance Française, La Société Saint-Jean Baptiste, La Société du Parler Français, and the Liberal Party of Alberta.
Picard died May 23, 1934. École J. H. Picard School
in Edmonton is named in his honour.
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...
and a municipal councillor in 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...
.
Biography
Picard was born in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, QuebecSaint-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec
Saint-Jean-de-Matha is a municipality located within the Matawinie Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada, in the Lanaudière region.-History:...
on February 18, 1857. He apprenticed as a carpenter before coming west in 1884 to Fort Qu'Appelle
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
These figures do not include the substantial population living along the shores of the Fishing Lakes.-Origins:The current site is the third Fort Qu'Appelle. The first was a North West Company trading post , also in the valley but near what is now the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border...
and then Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
. In Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, he met Father Albert Lacombe
Albert Lacombe
Albert Lacombe , commonly known in Alberta simply as Father Lacombe, was a French-Canadian Roman Catholic missionary who lived among and evangelized the Cree and Blackfoot First Nations of western Canada...
, who suggested to him that he move to Edmonton, which he did in 1887. Once in Edmonton, he opened a general store, Larue & Picard; it was sold in 1907 when both he and his partner retired.
In 1903, he married Martine Voyer. The couple had two sons.
His political career began in 1894
Edmonton municipal election, 1894
The 1894 Edmonton municipal election was held January 2, 1894 to elect the town council, consisting of a mayor and six aldermen, each elected for a one year term).-Mayor:-Aldermen:-References:*...
when he was elected as an alderman to Edmonton Town Council, finishing fifth of nine candidates in an election in which the top six were elected. He was re-elected in 1895
Edmonton municipal election, 1895
The 1895 municipal election was held January 14, 1895 to elect the town council and four trustees for each of the public and separate school divisions...
, but defeated in 1896
Edmonton municipal election, January 1896
The first of two 1896 municipal elections was held January 13, 1896 to elect the town council , five trustees for the public school division and four trustees for the separate school division....
, placing seventh of eight candidates. He placed dead last of nine candidates in the following election
Edmonton municipal election, December 1896
The second of two 1896 municipal elections was held December 14, 1896. This was the first election to take place on the second Monday of December instead of the second Monday in January...
, but returned to council in 1897
Edmonton municipal election, 1897
The 1897 municipal election was held December 13, 1897. This was the last election to elect a full town council for a one year term, as the 1898 election was conducted under a staggered system...
, placing third of nine candidates.
In 1898
Edmonton municipal election, 1898
The 1898 municipal election was held December 12, 1898. In previous elections, an entire town council had been elected at once for a one year term; 1898 marked the beginning of staggered aldermanic terms, such that half of the six aldermen would be elected each year to two year terms...
, when staggered aldermanic terms were introduced, the top three finishers in the election were elected to two year terms, while the bottom three were elected to one year terms. Picard was one of the latter, and ceased to be an alderman in 1899. His next attempt at election took place in 1902
Edmonton municipal election, 1902
The 1902 municipal election was held December 8, 1902 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
, when he placed last of five candidates. He was elected again in 1903
Edmonton municipal election, 1903
The 1903 municipal election was held December 14, 1903 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
, finishing third of nine and being elected to a two year term. However, this term was truncated when Edmonton became a city in 1904 and a new, eight member 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...
was elected. In that year's election
Edmonton municipal election, 1904
The 1904 municipal election was held December 12, 1904 for the purpose of electing a mayor and eight aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees. It was Edmonton's first election as a city, and the first in which there were...
, Picard finished sixth of seventeen candidates, and was elected to another one year term (the top four candidates won two year terms). He was re-elected to a two year term in 1905
Edmonton municipal election, 1905
The 1905 municipal election was held December 11, 1905 for the purpose of electing a mayor and four aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees. There were eight aldermen on city council, but four of the positions were...
, placing fourth of ten candidates.
At the expiration of this term in 1907
Edmonton municipal election, 1907
The 1907 municipal election was held December 9, 1907 for the purpose of electing a mayor and five aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and six separate school trustees...
, Picard ran for mayor, but was defeated by John Alexander McDougall
John Alexander McDougall
John Alexander McDougall was a politician in Alberta, Canada, a municipal councillor and mayor in Edmonton, and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Early life:...
. He stayed out of politics for seven years thereafter.
In 1914
Edmonton municipal election, 1914
The 1914 municipal election was held December 14, 1914 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
, Picard returned to office, finishing fourth of fourteen candidates. However, he was defeated in his 1916
Edmonton municipal election, 1916
The 1916 municipal election was held December 11, 1916 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, three trustees to sit on the public school board, and four trustees to sit on the separate school board....
re-election bid, finishing seventh of eleven candidates. This marked the end of his career in municipal politics.
Joseph Henri Picard was a member of the Catholic school board from 1899 until 1925, and was also active with the Board of Trade, the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, the Edmonton Club, the Edmonton Exhibition Board, l'Alliance Française, La Société Saint-Jean Baptiste, La Société du Parler Français, and the Liberal Party of Alberta.
Picard died May 23, 1934. École J. H. Picard School
École J. H. Picard School
École J.H. Picard School is an elementary/junior/senior high school located on 99th street in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is well known for being the only Catholic school in Western Canada that provides complete French Immersion education from kindergarten to grade 12. It was established in 1972,...
in Edmonton is named in his honour.