Preceded by Nelson Spenser Name William Johnston | ||
Spouse(s) Alice (1900–1925; his death) | ||
William George Johnston (January 23, 1876 – June 6, 1925) was a Canadian provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta sitting with the Domion Labor Party caucus from 1921 to his death in 1925.
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Early life
Johnston was born at Owen Sound, Ontario on January 23, 1876 to James A. Johnston and Helen A. Clark, both of Scottish descent. He was educated at public schools on Grey County, Ontario. Upon his arrival to the district of Woolchester, Alberta in 1900, he found employment with the Canadian Pacific Railway as a driver of passenger trains. He had also, a number of times, served a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Political career and death
Johnston ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the electoral district of Medicine Hat as the candidate for the Dominion Labor party in the 1921 Alberta general election. He won the second seat in the four cornered race. Johnston's returns showed a seesaw battle for first place with United Farmers candidate Perren Baker. While attending a Legislative session, Johnston fell ill, and returned to his home where he had become bedridden. As of late, had been experiencing heart problems, and a long illness. He died soon after of the illness in the evening of June 6, 1925. His funeral, "one of the largest ever held in Medicine Hat" at the time, was attended by many Alberta cabinet ministers and MLAs. A death notice published several weeks after his death proclaimed him "one of the most popular members of the house." A United Farmers of Alberta publication, published shortly after his death, also referring to Johnston as one of the more popular members, also stated that he was "well known in the rural parts of his constituency as he was in the city, and in the Legislative Assembly, he was an effective and able spokesman of his farmer constituents."