Peter Dawson (politician)

Peter Dawson (April 11, 1892 – March 24, 1963) was a

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

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).^[1] He was one of ten children, one of whom was his twin sister who died at the age of five months.^[1] John Dawson died in 1900, when Peter was only eight years old; he had worked as a police constable and blacksmith.^[1]

Dawson attended public schools and attended the

After five years in Calgary, he moved to Edmonton, where he enrolled in Robertson College, a Prebysterian seminary. He then studied arts and theology at United Theological College, which later become St. Stephen's College, on the University of Alberta campus, where he was the first president of the student council and one of its first graduates in 1927. He was ordained a minister later in the year at Knox United Church in Calgary.^[2]

Politics

Although he had no interest in politics at first,

He was chosen to chair a committee set up in 1951 to revise the rules of the Assembly.[7] During a session on March 21, 1952, Dawson was pushed to name Arthur Wray, MLA for Banff-Cochrane, after Wray made remarks towards a provincial official at a committee meeting. When asked by Dawson to withdraw the remarks, Wray refused, prompting Dawson to name him and order his removal from the chamber.^[8] 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.^[8]

On February 9, 1956, at the opening of the second session of the 13th Legislature, Dawson accepted a new mace from the Civil Service Association of Alberta on the occasion of the province's 50th anniversary of entry into Confederation.

On December 26, 1923, in Calgary, Dawson married Hildegarde Christina Hallonquist, whom he had met while serving as a missionary that summer.[2] Hilde was the daughter of Swedish immigrants Johannes and Hanna Hallonquist. Her father, commonly known as John, helped Swedish immigrants settle in Manitoba,^[2] and later became a foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway.^[2] Peter and Hilde had two sons, Earland "Earl" McMurray Dawson (1928–2008) and David Gilmour Dawson (born 1933).^[3] Both became successful professional engineers in Ontario.^[14]

Dawson enjoyed a wide range of recreational activities, including golf, curling, badminton and gardening at his home in Vulcan.^[10] He took part in the planning and establishment of Little Bow Provincial Park near Champion.^[10] He was an active member of the Grand Lodge of Alberta, a fraternal association; he served in the office of Worshipful Master of Champion Lodge in 1947, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge in 1949 and 1950, and Grand Master in 1954 and 1955. He was also active in Shrine and Scottish Rite Lodges.^[10] Dawson and his wife moved to Vulcan, Alberta in 1960, where they purchased their first house.^[6]

Dawson received many honours during his time as Speaker, including a life membership in the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery Association, in which he had served as an honorary president.^[10] One year after his death, in 1964, the Vulcan Senior Citizens Centre was named Peter Dawson Lodge in his memory, in a contest to name the facility.^[10]

Death and funeral

On March 24, 1963, after a speaking engagement in Red Deer, to the Masons at Lodge Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, to whom he delivered a sermon entitled "We know not the hour!", Dawson suffered a heart attack in the Speaker's Suite in the Legislature Building.^[10] Attended by Health Minister Joseph Donovan Ross, he died on the way to University of Alberta Hospital, the only Speaker in the history of the Alberta Legislative Assembly to die in office.^[10] His death was announced the next day by Clerk Raymond A. A. Crevolin.^[10] After members of the House paid tribute to Dawson, the session was quickly adjourned.^[10]

On the morning of March 28, his body lay in state in the chamber, the first time a Speaker was so honoured. Several hundred people gathered in the chamber to pay their last respects.

Bibliography

• Perry, Sandra E.; Footz, Valerie L. (2006). A Higher Duty : Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of the North-West Territories and Alberta, 1888-2005.
  ISBN 0-9689217-3-6
  .
• Carmangay and District History Book Committee (1968). Bridging the Years : Carmangay and district. Lethbridge, Alberta: Southern Printing Company Limited.
• Champion History Committee (1972). Cleverville - Champion: 1905 to 1970: A history of Champion and area.
  ISBN 978-0-919212-11-4. Archived from the original
  on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2011-05-31.