Alberta becomes a province

When did Alberta become a Province?

Alberta officially became a Province on September 1, 1905. The ceremony occurred on September 1, 1905, at noon. The commission appointing George Hedley Vicars Bulyea as Lieutenant Governor was read. He took the oath of office, and Alberta thus became a province.

How was the name "Alberta" chosen?

The Province of Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of John Campbell, the Marquis of Lorne, who was Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883.

Who was the first Premier of Alberta?

The Honourable Alexander Cameron Rutherford was appointed Premier of Alberta on September 2, 1905, the day following the Inauguration.

What was the population of Alberta in 1905?

There is no official figure available for the population of Alberta in 1905. Prime Minister Laurier estimated that the population was 250,000 people, when he introduced the legislation to the House of Commons. This figure was apparently derived from the number of homestead applications.

An article in the Edmonton Bulletin from January 14, 1925, entitled "Taking Stock of Alberta" gives the population of Alberta in 1905 as 160,000 people. No source is provided for this estimate. The 1906 census reported the population of Alberta as 185,412 people.