George Wilbert Smith


George Wilbert Smith was a teacher, businessman and politician in Alberta, Canada. He served on the Red Deer City Council and in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 until his death in 1931 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.

Early life

George Wilbert Smith was born in 1855 in the town of Maitland, Nova Scotia. He moved to the Northwest Territories and settled in the Red Deer area in 1883. Smith became the first school teacher in central Alberta.
Smith was also a business man. He founded and served as a director on the Smith Lead Company Ltd. and also served on the board of directors for the Western General Electric Company.

Political career

Municipal

Smith served as an alderman on Red Deer City Council for several years and as mayor from 1916 to 1918.

Provincial

Smith ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1921 Alberta general election under the United Farmers banner. He defeated incumbent John Gaetz in a two-way race in a landslide to pick up the Red Deer electoral district for his party.
Smith faced Gaetz again in the 1926 Alberta general election as well as Conservative candidate William Payne. Smith defeated Payne on the second vote count to hold his seat.
In the 1930 Alberta general election Smith faced Payne again in a two-way race and defeated him by 88 votes.
Smith was hospitalized in Red Deer, Alberta in July 1931 for ailing kidneys. He died on August 1, 1931 of a heart seizure shortly before he was to have surgery.