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Authority record
Recreation Board
AR-RG-20-S-3 · Corporate body · 1957-[ca. 1961]

On January 14, 1957 Bylaw 1804 was passed, dissolving the Recreation Commission and establishing a Recreation Board. The Board consisted of nine members: one member of City Council, one Public and one Separate School Board member, and four citizens nominated by the Nominating Committee of Council. The Recreation Board acted in an advisory capacity to the civic administration in all matters affecting the development, maintenance, extension and use of all recreation grounds owned or controlled by the City.

AR-MS-491 · Corporate body · 1921-current

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) is a coalition of community leagues joined for the purpose of promoting volunteerism, community involvement, and the creation and development of new community leagues. While the first community leagues were established in the 1910’s, the EFCL was founded in 1921 in order to present a stronger political voice to the Edmonton City Council. The EFCL also advocates for the interests of community leagues involved in issues that encompass all of Edmonton.

Parks Department
AR-RG-22 · Corporate body · 1911-1913, 1947-1961

In 1911 City parks were operated by Paul A. von Aueberg under the City Engineer. There was a Parks Commission, which likely provided guidance to the development of the parks system, to which City Engineer A.J. Latronell was appointed in 1911. On April 1, 1912 Parks became an independent department, with von Aueberg as superintendent. The early Parks Department was tasked with establishing, maintaining, and improving all parks and parkland in the city.

Due to a financial crisis the Parks Department was closed by order of Council on August 21, 1913 and the parks function reverted to the Engineer's Department. Over the next thirty-four years the Engineer's Department guided the parks system: the parks were maintained and expanded, Borden Park Zoo established, the Municipal Golf Course was created, swimming pools and hockey rinks were built, boulevards constructed, trees planted, and the community leagues movement began.

On January 13, 1947 the Parks Department was resurrected when Council approved the formation of the City Parks Department. The Parks Department had 180 staff, mostly transferred from the Engineer's Department.

A 1952 organizational chart lists the responsibilities of the re-established Parks Department as the maintenance of City parks, boulevards, the football stadium, the zoo, and rinks; the maintenance and operation of cemeteries including issuing permits, collecting fees, and removing snow; the maintenance and operation of golf courses and swimming pools; the operation of concessions in parks, swimming pools and golf courses; and maintaining complete accounting records.

The Zoo Advisory Board was established on 1959 through Bylaw 1967. The Board's function was to provide advice to City Council in connection to projects and policies relating to zoological issues, particularly in respect to the Children's Zoo in Laurier Park. The five member Board was composed of three individuals appointed by Council from a list provided by the Edmonton Zoological Society, and two members appointed by Council as citizen's-at-large members.

On August 29, 1961 Bylaw 2202 was passed, merging the Parks Department and Recreation Department to form the Parks and Recreation Department. The amalgamation took effect January 1, 1962.

AR-RG-1 · Corporate body · 1971-1976

Management Services, under Superintendent H. B. Fraser, provided a wide range of technical and informational assistance to all other City Departments. Its sole purpose was to service the changing requirements of the City as evidenced in the particular demands of operating departments and other service functions.

Major functions of the department were organizational planning and analysis, equipment selection, office layout, forms design and control, a complete computing service which included systems design, operation and maintenance, records management, printing and reproductions. The department was divided into five main branches: Analytical Services, Computer Systems, Computer Operations, Microfilm and Records (Mail Services), and Printing and Reproductions.

AR-RG-23 · Corporate body · 1971-1982

The Industrial Development Board was approved by Council in 1945 and was responsible for promoting industrial development in Edmonton and to advise City Council and the City Commissioners. In 1957 the Industrial Development Board became the Land and Industrial Development Department, but two years later it was dissolved into the Land Department and the Industrial Development Department. The Industrial Development Department was responsible for promoting Edmonton as a destination for industry.

In 1971 the Industrial Development Department was renamed the Business Development Department to more accurately represent the work being done. The primary purpose of the Business Development Department was to develop and execute programs to attract and facilitate all aspects of economic and industrial growth in the Edmonton area. Through its involvement in resource development and tourism the department also played a vital role in the promotion of the city and its facilities. Specifically, it was instrumental in the growth and development of Klondike Days and Fort Edmonton Park, which were used as promotional tools at Expo '67 in Montreal. The department also assisted in the development and promotion of the Yellowhead Highway route across western Canada.

The Business Development Department was dissolved in 1982 when it was replaced by the Edmonton Economic Development Authority.

AR-RG-26 · Corporate body · 1910-1954

Prior to the creation of the License Department, the task of issuing licenses and enforcing them was the responsibility of, Thomas McCallum was hired by the Police Department as a constable and license inspector in 1903. After the License Department was established McCallum became the City License Inspector.

The License Department was responsible for collecting licence fees established by City Bylaws, issuing licence certificates, and checking premises in the City to see that necessary licenses are obtained. The necessity of obtaining licenses was meant to bring the City additional revenue as well as to regulate, and control or prohibit certain activities. As example, in 1931 there were over 70 different types of licenses, ranging from $2 for a male dog, to $250 for a beer license north of the river and south of 118 Avenue.

There were close relationships between the License Department and other City departments due to the nature of the work. For example, license payments were collected by the Assessor's Department until 1924, then by the Comptroller's Office until 1927, and then by the Police Department. The Police Department was also involved in inspecting for licenses and enforcing the license bylaws.

Around 1932 the License Department was renamed the License and Collection Department.

The License Department was dissolved in 1954 after it was decided it should be . The amalgamation was Effective January 1, 1955, the License Department was absorbed by the Business Tax & License Section of the Assessor's Department.

Edmonton Public Library
AR-RG-27 · Corporate body · 1909-

The Edmonton Public Library was founded in 1909 with the passing of Bylaw 240-1909: A Bylaw to Establish a Public Library. This document enabled the appointment of the Edmonton Library Board. The following year the Strathcona Library Board was appointed. Both libraries opened their loan departments in 1913.

Since its creation the Edmonton Public Library has sought to improve the lives of Edmontonians through various information-related programs and services, relying initially on the printed word, but by the 1950s including audio visual, and more recently digital material as well.

AR-RG-1-S-1 · Corporate body · 1971-1976

The records in this series relate primarily to the functions of the Analytical Services, Computer Systems, Computer Operations branches.

The Analytical Services Branch, under Director Trevor Peach, was originally intended to provide the City with a staff of competent Work Study Technicians through a period of training and then reassignment to their departments. The concept developed to that of a permanent staff of qualified management Analysts with the capability for a broader approach to problem solving with the realization that Work Study was just one part of the problem solving approach. Their concept of service expanded to include work systems design and special assistance in office systems, forms design, organization, economic feasibility, financial studies and the provision of resource people for expediting the work of committees, and task forces.

The Computer Systems Branch, under Director George Mueske, was established to develop the various uses which could be made of a computer. It provided services that varied from providing courses in project control and critical path to actual systems design programming and implementation for specific projects. The branch had no authority to initiate new applications or to revise ones currently in use without the expressed wish of the department concerned.

The Computer Operations Branch, under Director Joe Davis, was responsible for data input, data control and twenty-four hour a day operation of the computer and auxiliary equipment.

AR-RG-1-S-2 · Corporate body · 1971-1976

The records in this series relate to the functions of the Printing and Reproductions Branch.

This branch, under Director Vern Skogg, was responsible for defining the use of materials, quality and quantity required, selecting the proper process, and producing the print job. The function was divided into two elements: plan printing and printing. Plan Printing serviced the needs of all City departments for blue and black line prints, sepias and mylars. There were three categories of printing: the printing of small reports, agendas, bylaws, inter-departmental letters and all of the council material for their meetings; a second category included the printing of all types of forms, letterhead, cards, brochures, books and reports; the third category was the tendering of printing requests that the shop could not handle because of large volume, or economy.

This branch had a satellite print shop at the Police Station to facilitate the immediate turnover requirements of the Police.

Telephone Department
AR-RG-40 · Corporate body · 1904-1995

The Telephone Department was established in 1904 when the City purchased the Edmonton District Telephone Co from Alex Taylor for $17,000. The Telephone Department was responsible for providing telephone service to Edmonton, including operators, cable installation and repairs, line installation and repairs, switching stations, billing, and providing and servicing private and public telephones.

The Province of Alberta passed the Telecommunications Act in 1988, which allowed municipalities to provide telecommunications services and products through a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation, but not through a City department. As a result the Telephone Department was dissolved in 1989.

On January 1, 1990 the Edmonton Telephones Corporation, also known as ED TEL, was incorporated. The sole shareholder was the City of Edmonton, and it was overseen by a Board of Governors who were appointed by City Council for two year terms.

ED TEL fulfilled the following functions: providing basic services; providing other telecommunication services and services pertaining to telecommunications; researching and consulting in telecommunications; purchasing, constructing, extending, maintaining, manufacturing, operating, leasing to and from others, and otherwise acquiring and disposing of systems, including private communications systems; and manufacturing, repairing, buying, selling, leasing to and from others, and otherwise trading in goods, merchandise and services pertaining to telecommunications.

ED TEL was sold to Telus on March 10, 1995 for just over $470 million.