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31-419: The mayor of Calgary is elected through a citywide vote by all eligible voters. The mayor represents the interests of the city as a whole. The councillors are elected by the constituents of each ward. The councillors represent the interests of their respective wards. The mayor and councillors hold the office for 4-year terms. The last municipal election was held on October 18, 2021 . The Calgary city government

62-511: A list of Mayors and Councillors elected to Calgary City Council , the governing body for the city of Calgary , Alberta , Canada . The first municipal election in Calgary took place in 1884 where Mayor George Murdoch and four councillors were elected to serve as Calgary's first council. Mayor and Councillors were elected for one year terms annually from 1884 until 1912, after which Councillors were elected to serve staggered two year terms. In 1923,

93-763: A successful harness shop. As Calgary was at its early stages, his main clientele was the North-West Mounted Police based in Fort Calgary and Blackfoot Indians who had a reserve nearby. He was on good terms with the Blackfoot and had learned to speak their language. In the community, Murdoch was involved with the Masonic Lodge and the Orange Order in Canada , literary and history societies, volunteer fire brigade ,

124-419: A whisky ring, and rumors were rampant that both Murdoch and the town's police chief James Ingram was receiving kickbacks from brothels and saloon keepers. Travis's behavior soon reached Ottawa and Judge Thomas Wardlaw Taylor of Winnipeg was sent by the federal government to investigate the situation. Taylor's report " Precis of the case of Jeremiah Travis (late stipendiary magistrate at Calgary) as presented by

155-574: Is invited to the committee meeting to make presentations. Any decisions that come out of these meetings need final approval from the Council as a whole. There are also a number of civic committees, boards, and authorities that help to create policies in specialized areas, such as parking, the preservation of heritage sites and buildings, and planning and development matters. These civic committees, board and authorities consist of citizens and one or more councillor. City Council meets three Mondays every month in

186-555: Is the council-manager form of government. The mayor and councillors oversee the City Manager and the administration of the city. Calgary's City Council is a council-policy committee system. The Council establishes its policies for governing the city based on information provided by four standing policy committees: These committees meet once every month at City Hall and are composed of councillors and are responsible for approving and recommending policies to City Council. The general public

217-571: The 12 councillors were elected in four wards, three to each ward. Aldermanic elections were held yearly, using block voting (each voter had as many votes as there were seats to fill. In 1914, Calgary moved to at-large elections with the city as one large district. Block voting was used, with each voter allowed to cast as many votes as the number of open seats. In 1917 Calgary brought in a system of Proportional Representation, under which city councillors were elected at-large using Single Transferable Voting (STV) and one multiple-member district covering

248-665: The City was divided into six wards with two Councillors elected for each ward. In 1977 the City was divided into fourteen wards with one Councillor elected to represent each ward, which has remained the structure of Calgary City Council to the present date. During the 1910s, and 1920s the residents elected City Commissioners, which were in charge of the Administration of the municipality. School board elections are also held in line with city council elections. Hospital boards were also elected in various city elections in Calgary. From 1906 to 1914,

279-506: The City was divided into three wards, each represented by three Councillors, for a total of nine Councillors. Council expanded in 1905 with the introduction of a fourth ward, which also received three Councillors, for a total of 12 Councillors. with the structure remaining in place until 1912. The ward system was eliminated in 1913, and a City Council consisting of twelve Councillors were elected at-large from 1914 to 1960, half of them up for election each time (with exceptions). In 1961,

310-816: The Council Chambers at the Calgary Municipal Building. Two meetings are regular Council meetings, where issues from the four policy committees are discussed. The third meeting is a public hearing, where planning matters are generally discussed. Citizens do not address Council during the two regular meetings, however the public hearings are designed for the citizens to speak directly with their elected councillor regarding specific issues. The city had an operating budget of $ 2.1 billion for 2007, supported 41% by property taxes . $ 757 million in property taxes are collected annually, with $ 386 million from residential and $ 371 million from non-residential properties. 54% of

341-469: The budget is spent for wages of the 13,043 city employees and expenditures. The average Calgary household pays approximately $ 2,100 per year in city tax. From 1884 to 1923, mayoralty elections were held annually. A plebiscite held in 1923 increased the term in office for the mayor from one to two years. In 1968, the Municipal Act increased the term in office by one year, for a total of three years. In 2013,

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372-500: The councillors $ 20. Taylor notes Council added about 78 names to the voter list without notice of sworn testimony, but the names added appeared to have the qualifications necessary to be entitled to be on the voters list. Taylor found treating the actions of council as a case of personal corruption was erroneous in law and irregular in form. Furthermore Taylor noted the punishment of removal from office, disqualification from re-election for two years and fines "extreme". Taylor also notes when

403-400: The early years. From 1917 to 1971, councillors were elected using single transferable votes to achieve a degree of proportionality/ fairness. After a plebiscite in 1960 the ward system was re-established in the city. Six wards were established, each represented by two aldermen. In 1974, voters had up to two votes under the block voting system to elect the two councillors in their ward. In 1976,

434-427: The effect of showing Murdoch's opponents having received a majority of the vote. The returning officer ignored Travis's order as there was no authority for it to be issued. The final result of the election showed Murdoch with a majority 180 votes and his opponent James Reilly with 18. Of the 78 names irregularly added to the voters' list, only 41 votes were cast. Travis found Murdoch in contempt of court and disallowed

465-529: The electors of the city. Calgary became a town in 1884. In the early history of Calgary from 1884 to 1888, three Councillors were elected at-large by all electors, then from 1888 to 1893, six Councillors were elected. Following the passage of the Calgary Charter (Ordinance 33 of 1893), which provided "City" status to Calgary, the Councillors were elected to represent wards of the City. From 1894 to 1904,

496-557: The length of term for a Mayor was extended to two years to match the period for councillors. In 1971 the term for Mayor and Councillors was extended from two years, to three years and provisions related to staggered election of Councillors were removed. In 2013, amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act extended the term for the Mayor and Councillors to four years. The Mayor of Calgary has always been elected at-large by

527-555: The number of wards expanded to 14 (current number) with one alderman representing each ward for three years (and voters having only one vote). On December 14, 2010, council voted to change the title to councillor , which took effect in the October 2013 election. In 2012 the Local Authorities Election Act was amended to increase the term length to 4 years. List of Calgary municipal elections This article provides

558-534: The report of Mr. Justice Taylor and the correspondence and evidence " which found Travis had exceeded his authority was released much later, in June 1887. Shortly before the 1886 election, G. E. Marsh brought a charge of corruption against Murdoch and council over irregularities in the voters' list. Travis found Murdoch and the councillors guilty, disqualifying them from running in the 1886 election, barring them from municipal office for two years, and fining Murdoch $ 100, and

589-581: The result of the election, instead installing James Reilly as mayor and other members as the council. The municipal government under Mayor Reilly was ineffective when the town's books and seal disappeared. The federal government acted before officially receiving Taylor's report by reorganized the courts of the Northwest Territories, and the Territorial Council called for a new municipal election in Calgary on November 3, 1886 . George Clift King

620-605: The seven-person civic committee, the precursor to the first town council. The elected group consisted of Murdoch, Major James Walker (1846-1936), Dr. Andrew Henderson, George Clift King , Thomas Swan, J. D. Moulton and Captain John Stewart (d. 1893). On December 4, 1884 , Murdoch was elected the first mayor of the Town of Calgary and was re-elected on January 4, 1886 , holding the post until October 21, 1886. Murdoch, along with councillors Issac Sanford Freeze and Dr. Neville James Lindsay,

651-498: The term for mayor was amended in the Local Authorities Election Act to 4 years. Calgary had city commissioners from early 1900s into the 1950s. The city elected its city commissioners in the 1910s and 1920s. Otherwise they were appointed by the city council. The city of Calgary continues to have six commissioners that are appointed for life. Their names are listed in past City Handbooks but have since been removed from newer editions. From 1884 to 1886, four councillors were selected from

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682-442: The town. In 1894, Calgary was divided into three wards, increasing the number of councillors to six. Later, three aldermen represented each ward. In 1906, a fourth ward was created, bringing the total number of aldermen to 12. From 1914 to 1960, aldermen were elected from across the city for two-year terms, dismantling the ward system. Staggered elections made half the council up for election each year. Commissioners were also elected in

713-483: The voters' list was being revised and the "corrupt practices" were occurring, Murdoch was visiting his former home in Eastern Canada and not in Calgary. The election occurred as planned in on January 6, 1886, with Murdoch and the councillors on the ballot and the "irregular voter list" in use. Travis served the returning officer with a judicial order forbidding him from receiving any vote for Murdoch which would have

744-604: The whole city. (The mayor was elected through Instant-runoff voting .) This survived until 1961. This system is said to have produced the emergence and increased representation of neighbourhood or community-based political groups. In 1961, Calgary switched to a ward system in which multiple city councillors were elected in each ward using STV, in 1961 and 1971. For other elections held from 1962 to 1970,councillors sat in staggered terms, with usually only one in each ward up for election each time. The elections in between were held according to Alternative Voting in which one councillor

775-497: Was Calgary's last election held using Single Transferable Vote, and would be the last one in Canada up to the present. From 1884 to 2010 the title for elected officials on Calgary City Council excluding the Mayor, was Alderman, although Councillor was used interchangeably during that period. On December 14, 2010, council voted to change the title to councillor , which took effect in the October 2013 election. George Murdoch George Murdoch (April 29, 1850 – February 2, 1910)

806-573: Was a Canadian politician, Alberta pioneer, saddle-maker, and the first mayor of Calgary , Alberta . George Murdoch was born in Paisley, Scotland , on April 29, 1850, and at the age of four, Murdoch emigrated to Canada in 1854 and settled in Saint John, New Brunswick , where he spent much of his earlier years. At the age of 18 Murdoch moved to Chicago , where he learned the trade of saddle and harness making. Murdoch returned to New Brunswick after his shop

837-583: Was destroyed in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire . While in New Brunswick he married his wife Margaret, and together they had their first two children in the province. In total, they had at least three sons and two daughters. On May 13, 1883, George Murdoch arrived in Calgary at the age of 33, just months before the Canadian Pacific Railway would reach the community in August 1883. In Calgary, he started

868-542: Was elected Mayor of Calgary. Murdoch was elected town Councillor for single terms in both 1889 and 1895 . During the Calgary Fire of 1886 it was determined a firebreak would need to be formed, and former mayor George Murdoch agreed and participated in the demolishing of his harness shop. An attempt was made to use gunpowder to blow up Murdoch's store. However, the Calgary Weekly Herald noted " failed owing to

899-579: Was elected in each ward. After 1961, in the subsequent elections, staggered terms meant only one councillor was elected each election in each ward each year. That plus the retention of single transferable voting meant Alternative Voting , instead of Single Transferable Vote (STV). (Two times there were two vacancies in a ward due to resignation or other cause and multi-winner STV was used) Previous to 1971 election, terms of aldermanic service were extended to three years, and all ward seats were elected simultaneously in 1971, through Single Transferable Vote. This

930-619: Was one of the founders of Calgary's Presbyterian Church and the first President of the Calgary St. Andrew's Society. Being one of the first permanent businessmen in Calgary, he was an active participant in securing the incorporation of Calgary from the government of the North-West Territories in November 1884. George Murdoch played a pivotal role in the formation of the Town of Calgary, joining prominent civic leaders as elected members of

961-419: Was removed from office effective October 21, 1886, by a special Territorial Ordinance issued by stipendiary magistrate Jeremiah Travis . Travis, a teetotaler and supporter of the temperance movement, was appalled by the open traffic of liquor, gambling and prostitution in Calgary despite legal prohibition in the Northwest Territories. Murdoch and the town solicitor Henry Bleeker were alleged to be members of

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