Cec Purves facts for kids

Cec Purves, born on October 18, 1933, is a Canadian politician. He was the mayor of Edmonton, a big city in Alberta, Canada. He also served as an alderman, which is like a city council member, helping to make decisions for Edmonton.

Early Life and Family

Cec Purves was born in Edmonton on October 18, 1933. He grew up in different parts of the city, including Calder and Riverdale. He went to Victoria High School and Strathcona High School, graduating in 1950.

On December 29, 1956, Cec Purves married Clare Heller. They had four daughters named Cindy, Corinne, Caroline, and Catherine.

Before becoming a politician, Purves worked at the Dominion Bank from 1950 to 1959. After that, he worked for his family's business, Apex Auto Upholstering, until 1988.

Cec Purves is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became a member of the Church later in life. He even served as a bishop, which is a leader in the Church. He was the first person born in Edmonton to become a bishop in the city.

Political Journey

Cec Purves first tried to get involved in politics in 1964. He ran to be a school trustee but was not elected that time.

Becoming an Alderman

In 1966, Purves ran for Edmonton City Council and was elected as an alderman. Aldermen are like city councillors who help run the city. He was re-elected in 1968.

In 1971, Edmonton changed how aldermen were elected. The city was divided into different areas called wards. Purves ran in Ward 2 and was elected again.

Running for Mayor

In 1974, Purves ran for mayor but did not win. The winner, William Hawrelak, sadly passed away while in office. Terry Cavanagh, an alderman, became mayor.

Purves ran for mayor again in 1977, challenging Terry Cavanagh. This time, Cec Purves won the election and became the 30th mayor of Edmonton. He was re-elected in 1980 with a large number of votes.

Key Achievements as Mayor

During Cec Purves' time as mayor, Edmonton hosted some very important events and completed major projects.

Hosting Big Events

• 1978 Commonwealth Games: Edmonton hosted the 1978 Commonwealth Games, a huge international sports event. Commonwealth Stadium was opened for these games. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, along with their sons, opened the Games. It was a big success for Edmonton.
• 1983 University Games: Purves also helped Edmonton win the bid to host the 1983 University Games. These games brought many university athletes to the city. Prince Charles and Princess Diana attended and opened these games, which was very exciting for Edmontonians.

City Development and Improvements

• Convention Centre: In 1979, Edmontonians voted to build a new convention center. Purves strongly supported this project, and it was finished in 1983.
• LRT Expansion: Purves oversaw the opening of the first part of Edmonton's Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. He also started the extension of this train system to the Government Centre, which was completed during his term.
• City Finances: In 1981, Purves introduced a plan to reduce the city's debt. This plan helped the city manage its money well in the years that followed.
• Roadways and Annexation: He pushed for more major roads across the city. He also worked on a plan to expand Edmonton's city limits by adding nearby land. This was a very large expansion in the city's history.
• New Police Station: Under Purves' leadership, a modern downtown police station was built. He also appointed the first Auditor General for the City of Edmonton, who helps make sure the city's money is spent correctly.
• 75th Anniversary: Purves appointed Fred Windwick to lead the celebrations for Edmonton's 75th anniversary, which was a great success.
• Kinsmen Field House: He worked with the Kinsmen group to build the Kinsmen Field House, a sports facility.
• River Valley Preservation: Purves was dedicated to protecting Edmonton's beautiful river valley. The city acquired a lot of land in the Rossdale area to help preserve it. He also worked with the Alberta Government on the Capital City Recreation Park.
• Ring Roads and Airport: He encouraged the provincial government to help fund the construction of ring roads around the city. He also successfully fought to keep the municipal airport open, as it was important for the city's growth and communication.

End of Mayoral Term

In the 1983 election, Cec Purves ran for re-election but was defeated by Laurence Decore. After this, he did not seek to return to politics.

Life After Politics

After his time as mayor, Cec Purves continued to be involved in the community. He served on several important boards and committees.

He was a member of the St. Joseph's Hospital board, the Edmonton Police Commission, and the Edmonton Symphony Society board. He was also involved with the Edmonton Exhibition Association and was president of the Edmonton Jaycees in 1962. The Jaycees is an international organization for young people. He received an award from the Jaycees and was chosen twice as one of the 10 outstanding young men in Alberta.

Purves also served as a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1974 to 1977, and held many other roles within the Church over the years. He also served as president of the Edmonton chapter of The Canadian Mental Health Association.