19 Facts About Harry Ainlay

Harry Ainlay was born in Brussels, Ontario to Watson and Emily Ainlay, and earned his teaching certificate in that province.

Harry Ainlay came to Alberta in 1907 to help his carpenter father and settled near Stavely for several years before moving to Edmonton in 1912.

Harry Ainlay served as vice-principal of the Queen Alexandra School and principal of the Garneau and Strathcona High School, now Old Scona Academic High School.

Harry Ainlay was successful in the 1931 election, when he finished second of fifteen candidates and was elected to a two-year term.

Harry Ainlay was re-elected in the 1933 election, but was defeated in the 1935 election.

Once out of office, Harry Ainlay made his first bid for mayor in the 1936 election, finishing third of five candidates as incumbent Joseph Clarke was re-elected.

Harry Ainlay made two subsequent unsuccessful attempts to return to aldermanic office before taking three years off from municipal politics.

Harry Ainlay returned to office in the 1941 election, finishing first of fourteen candidates in the aldermanic race.

Harry Ainlay was re-elected in 1943, but resigned halfway through his two-year term to run for mayor in the 1945 election, when he defeated Winslow Hamilton.

Harry Ainlay was re-elected in the 1946 and 1947 elections, defeating Thomas Cairns and Frederick Speed, respectively.

Harry Ainlay did not seek re-election in the 1949 election, due to health issues arising from a serious fall he had sustained working on his retirement home in BC.

Harry Ainlay ran in provincial and federal elections a total of four times, each time under the banner of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.

Harry Ainlay finished eighth of nineteen candidates on the first count, and was not one of the five candidates elected.

Harry Ainlay finished second of five candidates, ahead of incumbent Liberal MP Cora Taylor Casselman but still being defeated by Social Creditor Patrick Ashby.

Harry Ainlay repeated the experience finishing ahead of incumbent, but still losing, in his last bid for office.

Harry Ainlay had moved to British Columbia, where he ran in the 1952 provincial election in the riding of Dewdney.

Harry Ainlay finished second of four candidates, ahead of incumbent Progressive Conservative Roderick Charles MacDonald, but being defeated by Lyle Wicks of the British Columbia Social Credit League.

Harry Ainlay died in Haney, British Columbia on March 12,1970.

Harry Ainlay left an endowment for a $500 scholarship to be given in his name to a graduating student planning on pursuing a career in Education.