Alexander McBride

Who was Alexander McBride?

Alexander McBride was the ninth mayor of Calgary, Alberta.

McBride arrived in Calgary in 1886 and established a hardware store on Stephen Avenue, A. McBride and Company. This was Calgary's first hardware store. During the 1890s, he spent five years on city council including one year as mayor in 1896. He narrowly won his mayoral election against incumbent Wesley Fletcher Orr. After his term, McBride did not seek re-election. This allowed Orr to return uncontested to the mayoral seat.

Prior to moving to Calgary, McBride was a tinsmith in London, Ontario. There, he and his wife, Lucy, built in 1874 the home located at 504 Colborne Street. Lucy's asthma was the motivating factor for their move to Calgary.

Early in the 1900s, he left Calgary and spent time in Fort Steele, British Columbia, Cranbrook, British Columbia, and Red Deer, Alberta. Edward, the oldest of his six children, took over his business. McBride died in Galt, Ontario in 1912.