George Van Allen
KC
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
August 22, 1935 – June 15, 1937
ConstituencyEdmonton
Personal details
Born(1890-06-22)June 22, 1890
Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada
DiedJune 15, 1937(1937-06-15) (aged 46)
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Political partyLiberal
SpouseRuby Thomer
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
Occupationlawyer

George Harold Van Allen KC (June 22, 1890 – June 15, 1937) was a Canadian provincial politician from Alberta. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to his death in 1937, sitting with the Liberal caucus in government.

Early life

George Harold Van Allen was born June 22, 1890, at Crysler's Farm in Morrisburg, Ontario[1] to Wilbur Van Allen and Florence Louise Hayunga, both Canadian ancestors of United Empire Loyalists.[2] Van Allen attended Morrisburg High School and was educated to become a teacher. He moved to Lethbridge in 1912 to become a principal, and soon after relocated to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta where he completed his Bachelor of Laws.[2] Van Allen was admitted to the bar in 1915, formed his own practice in 1919 and was named King's Counsel in 1929.[3] He married Ruby Thomer on December 23, 1926, and together had three sons and one daughter.[2] Van Allen served as government counsel during the Royal Commission on Grain Freight Rates in 1923–1924,[1] and as the President of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce in 1928-1929.[3]

Political life

George Van Allen was elected to the 8th Alberta Legislature in the district of Edmonton in the 1935 Alberta general election. Van Allen was one of six candidates elected for the district, which included two other Liberals in William R. Howson and Gerald O'Connor.[4] As an MLA, Van Allen focused his attention on the state of the agricultural industry and was concerned with the Social Credit economic policies.[3] Van Allen contracted the flu in the autumn of 1936 that developed into pneumonia. He sought treatment in California and Minnesota until his death at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, part way through his term in office on June 15, 1937, at the age of 46.[3][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "George Van Allen, Liberal M.L.A., Dies". Calgary Herald. Edmonton. June 16, 1937. p. 18. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Normandin, A. L., ed. (1936). The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Ottawa: Mortimer Company Ltd. p. 393. ISBN 9781414401416. ISSN 0315-6168. OCLC 893686591. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Van Allen, George". Alberta on Record. City of Edmonton Archives. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Edmonton Official Results 1935 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
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