Einar Sigurjon Jonasson (17 June 1887 – 8 July 1935) was a politician in
Manitoba
, image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg
, map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada
, Label_map = yes
, coordinates =
, capital = Winn ...
, Canada. He served in the
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (french: Assemblée législative du Manitoba) is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at provincial gen ...
from 1932 to 1935, as a member of the
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party (french: Parti libéral du Manitoba) is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late 19th century, following the province's creation in 1870.
Origins and early development (to 1883)
Origina ...
.
Jonasson was born in
Mountain, North Dakota
Mountain is a city in Thingvalla Township, Pembina County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 80 at the 2020 census. Mountain was founded in 1884.
The community was the destination of many Icelandic immigrants who began arriving in ...
,
the son of Einar Jonasson and Jonina Sigfusdottir, both Icelandic immigrants.
His family moved to Canada in 1888, and he was educated at
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is northeast of Vancouver. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped establish the Coldstream Ranch in nearb ...
, and
Gimli, Manitoba
Gimli is an unincorporated community in the Rural Municipality of Gimli on the west side of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. The community's first European settlers were Icelanders who were part of the New Iceland settlement in Manitoba. The com ...
.
He married Anna Tergersen. Jonasson served as clerk for Gimli from 1908 to 1920, as chair of the Gimli school board
from 1918 to 1923 and as
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
of the Town of Gimli from 1924 to 1926. He also became the secretary-treasurer of the Rural Municipality of Gimli in 1911, and continued to hold this office into his career in the legislature.
[, ]
Jonasson first campaigned for the Manitoba legislature in the
1914 provincial election as a
Manitoba Liberal in the
Gimli constituency,
and lost to
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
candidate
Sveinn Thorvaldson
Sveinn Thorvaldson (March 3, 1872 – July 14, 1949) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1914 to 1915, as a member of the Conservative Party.
Biography
Thorvaldson was born in Ice ...
by 584 votes. He was nominated again in the
1915 election, but withdrew before the vote.
Jonasson campaigned a second time in the
1927 election, and lost to
Ingimar Ingaldson of the
Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to:
Active parties
* Progressive Party, Brazil
* Progressive Party (Chile)
* Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus
* Dominica Progressive Party
* Progressive Party (Iceland)
* Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...
by 225 votes.
In 1932, the governing Progressives formed an electoral alliance with the Liberals. Although he supported the alliance at the provincial level, Jonasson nonetheless challenged Ingaldson to represent the Gimli constituency in the
1932 election. He was successful on his third attempt, defeating Ingaldson
by 271 votes.
Jonasson died in office in Gimli at the age of 48 after an extended illness.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jonasson, Einar
1887 births
1935 deaths
Canadian people of Icelandic descent
Manitoba Liberal Party MLAs
American people of Icelandic descent
American emigrants to Canada
People from Pembina County, North Dakota
People from Gimli, Manitoba