Elections in Magog (1888-2006)

par Maurice Langlois

The Township of Magog was created in 1849 by detaching the 7 most western ranges of the Township of Hatley and the 9 most eastern ranges of the Township of Bolton. The Municipality of the Township of Magog was erected on July 1st 1855 and the first municipal elections were held on August 1st. The seven elected officers were anglophones, a reflection of Magog’s identity at the time : Colbe Abbott, Asa Hoyt, Samuel Hoyt, Jr., Thomas L. Hoyt, Benjamin H. Ives, Abial B. Johnson and E.D. Newton.

These elected officers chose Samuel Hoyt Jr. to serve as mayor. This procedure by which the mayor is elected by the councillors remains into effect until 1914 (60 years). In the future, the electorate will designate the person to hold the function of mayor. For a better understanding of the situation let us remind you that in 1888, the Village of Magog was detached from the Township of Magog and, in 1890, the Municipality of the Village of Magog became the Town of Magog. In 1952, Omerville also separated from the Township of Magog, thus creating 3 municipalities that will be reunited by the controversial merger of 2002.

Alvin H. Moore was the first mayor of Magog (1888-1890), followed by his brother Giles P. Moore (1890-1892). In January 1892, the elected councillors chose the first francophone mayor, Édouard H. Guilbert (Jacques Boisvert’s grandfather). for a 2-year term. With his nomination, an unwritten tradition begins : the alternation between an Anglophone and a Francophone in the Mayor’s chair.

Although Francophones were in majority in Magog, as early as the 1880’s, this tradition of alternation is maintained until outgoing mayor Alfred L’Archevêque is elected for three consecutive 2-year terms (1914-1920). In 1921, about 80 % of the population of Magog is francophone. Earl Aaron Martin, an Anglophone, will then serve 2 terms (1920-1924). From 1928 to 1938, alternation is given a second chance, but demographics prevails and the tradition ends. Marston E. Adams, a dentist, will be the last Anglophone to hold the mayor’s seat, from 1946 to 1948.

Two other factors seem to have contributed to the termination of this tradition of alternation. First, in 1914, the vote changed from voting openly with « raised hands » to a secret vote. Secondly, women were given the right to vote, under certains conditions : single women and widows who owned a property valued at $200 or more, and those who paid a yearly rent of over $20, joined the electorate. These factors most likely increased the ratio of Francophones /Anglophones.

In the Township of Magog, the situation was somewhat different. For over 60 years (1855-1917), mayors were English-speaking. The first French-Canadian to be elected mayor was Édouard Antoine Frenière dit Courtemanche, in 1917. In the Township, there was never a pattern of alternation and the last anglophone mayor was Hazen C. Bryant (1949-1955). Omerville, due to its fundamental nature, always had a francophone mayor.

Over the years, in spite of disparities between both cultures, harmony has been maintained and mutual respect has generally been the rule. Let us hope that all levels of government will set in place laws and regulations that will allow everyone to live in perfect harmony or at least will avoid actions that threaten the precarious equilibrium.

Maurice Langlois
Magog Historical Society
Published in The Townships Outlet, Oct. 2006

P.S. A book on this subject (in French only), by Serge Gaudreau, historian, is presently under press and should be launched in the coming months.

21 mai 2009

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