Born May 5, 1867 in Les Eboulements, Lower Canada, the son of Cléophas Coté was educated in Montmagny Commercial Academy and he attended the Ottawa College Wherehe qualified eventually as a surveyor and engineer. He ten worked for the Department of the Interior as a land sirveupr frp, 1893 to 1909. He was a member of the International Alaska Boundary Commission, whichdefined the frontier between Canada and Alaska in the 1890's. Hewas also a member ofthe surveying grouip that ran the second base line south of Winnipeg. From 1900 to 1902, he completed the legalsurvey of the Dawson City area in trhe Yukon. He came to Alberta in 1903 and settled in Edmonton where he became a senior partner in a land surveying and engineering company. He became a prominent businessman. Interested in provincial politics, Jean-Léon Coté, running as a Liberal, successfully contested the riding of Athabasca in 1909. He was re-elected as the member for Grouard in 1913, was re-elected by acclamation in that constitueency in 1917, and was re-elected once more in 1921. He wat for fourteen years in the Legislture. Premier Charles Stewart appointe Coté Provincial Secretary in 1918. He hold this cabinet portfolio for three years. Prime Minister MacKenzie King appointed him to the Senate in Auguste, 1923. In the Alberta prohibition debate of 1923, Senator J.L. Côté joined Senator W.A. Clarke and became active in the Moderation League. This group exhorted citizens to vote down Prohibition and "Make Alberta Sake for Democracy and a Great Place to Live." Their successful campaign ended seven years of prohibition in Alberta. In 1907. he married Cécile Gagnon. They had five sons, Coté died after serving less than a year in the Senate. He was fifty years of age.
from French Canadians in the Political Life of the Province of Alberta
No comments:
Post a Comment