Peter Dawson

Peter Dawson (April 11, 1892 – March 24, 1963) was a Canadian minister and politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Dawson was born in 1892 in Scotland. After attending schools and briefly working as a labourer and an apprentice to a butcher in Maybole, Dawson immigrated to Canada at the age of 18 with his brother, James Dawson. Shortly after arriving, he took up residence in Ontario where he worked in the automobile profession for seven years until moving west to Alberta in 1918.

Following his decision to settle in Calgary, he found employment as a butcher and interest in missionary work. His residence in Calgary, however, didn't last long, as five years later, he moved to the nearby capital city of Edmonton, where he attended Prebysterian schooling. Ordained as a minister of the United Church in 1927, he soon was called in 1928 to Sedgewick, where he remained for two years, before getting called to Champion. Although not intending to have a career in politics, a group of citizens persuaded him to run in the 1935 election, in which he defeated United Farmers Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Oran McPherson by 66% of the vote.

In 1937, Dawson was appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. During his 26-year tenure, from 1937 until his death in 1963, he witnessed and presided over many events, such as the first instance of crossing the floor in Alberta and naming a fellow MLA for remarks made at a provincial official. He also witnessed two royal visits to Alberta from two different monarchs, King George IV in 1939, and Queen Elizabeth II 20 years later, in which he presided over the installation of a fountain in the Legislature's rotunda. After dying in office in 1963, Dawson was honoured with a state funeral, attended by many prominent citizens of Alberta.

Early life and career

Dawson was born in Slateford, Ayrshire, Scotland, on April 11, 1892 to John and Jane Dawson (née McMurray). He was one of ten children, one of whom was his twin sister who died at the age of five months. In 1911, Dawson and his brother James sailed on the SS Ionian from Glasgow and arrived in Halifax nine days later. Dawson ran in the 1935 election as a Social Credit candidate in the riding of Little Bow, at the urging of a citizens' group. In February of the same year, as Speaker-Designate, he arranged the Opening Session of the Legislature to be broadcast on CJCA radio.

Dawson's time as speaker saw many firsts in Alberta legislative history; one was the defection in 1937 of cabinet ministers William N. Chant and John Hugill from the Social Credit caucus to sit as independents. This was the first instance of crossing the floor in the province's legislative history.

He was chosen to chair a committee set up in 1951 to revise the rules of the Assembly. A unanimous motion was later passed to suspend Wray for two sitting days, or until he withdrew his remarks and delivered an apology to the chamber. Wray returned four days later, issuing an apology and retracting his remarks. On the occasion of another royal visit in 1959, this time by Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, Dawson had a permanent fountain installed in the rotunda of the Legislature. He continued to serve as Speaker until his sudden death in 1963, right before the 1963 election. He served for 26 years in total as Speaker, the longest in the history of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. In 1954, he went to Carmangay, Alberta in 1954 to serve as a resident minister. He conducted services in various places in Alberta during his 30 years as a minister, ranging from schoolhouses to churches.

Dawson enjoyed a wide range of recreational activities, including golf, curling, badminton and gardening at his home in Vulcan. His body was then taken to Robertson United Church for the state funeral, with several church, judiciary, and government officials from across the province among the three hundred or so attending, and with Premier Manning officiating and delivering the eulogy. Others in attendance were Lieutenant Governor J. Percy Page and Edmonton mayor Elmer Roper. His body was later transported by train to Vulcan, where, after a second service, he was interred in the Vulcan Cemetery. Soon after his death, Hilde Dawson moved to Lethbridge. Upon her death on June 15, 1987, she was interred beside her husband.

Legacy Upon Dawson's death, Premier Manning said, "In his passing not only Alberta, but all of Canada has lost one of its outstanding figures. The reputation he built with his fair judgments and honest ability won him the confidence and respect of all members of the Assembly and extended beyond the borders of Alberta." Former Mayor of Edmonton and MLA Elmer E. Roper said, "I doubt if there has ever been anyone who occupied the Speaker's chair in Canada who was more fair and efficient in chairmanship over an assembly then the late Speaker." Dawson's son David recalled his father's personableness in that he "talked easily with complete strangers" and could start up a conversation with anyone he met. Former MLA and future Lieutenant Governor Grant MacEwan likened sitting in the Assembly under Dawson to "attending the school of a strict but well-qualified and kindly teacher."