Preceded by New district Role Legislator | Preceded by New District Name Prosper-Edmond Lessard Occupation politician Resigned July 18, 1921 | |
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Died April 11, 1931, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States Political party Alberta Liberal Party, Liberal Party of Canada | ||
Prosper-Edmond Lessard (February 3, 1873 – April 11, 1931) was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1921 sitting with the Liberal caucus in government. He also served in the Canadian Senate from 1925 to his death in 1931 sitting with the federal Liberal caucus.
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Early life
Lessard was born on February 3, 1873 in Cranbourne, Quebec. He left home seeking his fortune in the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. He stopped in Edmonton on his way there, and became a leading citizen in the Franco-Albertan community.
Political career
Lessard ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1909 Alberta general election as a Liberal candidate. He won the new Pakan electoral district by acclamation.
The 1913 boundary redistribution would see Pakan abolished. Lessard ran for re-election in the new St. Paul electoral district in the election held that year. He won a closely contested two-way race over Conservative candidate L. Garneau.
Lessard ran for a third term in the 1917 general election. He doubled his vote from the previous election, rolling up a big majority to keep his seat.
Lessard ran for a fourth term in the 1921 Alberta general election. He was defeated by United Farmers candidate Laudas Joly in a closely contested two-way race.
In 1925 Lessard was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Mackenzie King. He served until his death on April 11, 1931.
His unique downtown Edmonton area home has been declared a heritage site.