Prior to Edmonton’s incorporation as a Town in 1892, the area was governed by the Territorial Government. The area was also influenced by the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Northwest Mounted Police, as well as local citizens and citizen-run organizations.

On January 9, 1892 the Territorial Government assented to Ordinance No. 7 of 1891-1892: An Ordinance to Incorporate the Town of Edmonton. The incorporation of the Town became official when Edmontonians elected their first Mayor and Council on February 10th of that year.

The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer of the municipality. The Mayor performs the same legislative duties as the other elected officials on Council, providing direction, control, and planning of civic activities. The Mayor is required to preside over all council meetings when in attendance, provide leadership to council, represent Edmonton at functions and events, and can attend and vote in all committee meetings.

The Office of the Mayor is responsible for helping to implement the vision set out by the Mayor and ensuring the business of the office runs smoothly, from attending and following up on key meetings to helping shape city policy to scheduling the Mayor’s attendance at various events.

List of Edmonton Mayors (and terms):

1. Matthew McCauley (1893-1895)
2. Herbert Charles Wilson (1895-1986)
3. Cornelius Gallagher (1896)
4. John Alexander McDougall (1896-1897)
5. William S. Edmiston (1897-1899)
6. Kenneth W. MacKenzie (1899-1901)
7. William Short (1901-1904)
8. Kenneth W. MacKenzie (1904-1905)
9. Charles May (1905-1906)
10. William Antrobus Griesbach (1906-1907)
11. John Alexander McDougall (1907-1908)
12. Robert Lee (1908-1910)
13. George S. Armstrong (1910-1912)
14. William Short (1912-1913)
15. William J. McNamara (1913-1914)
16. William Thomas Henry (1914-1917)
17. Harry Marshall Erskine Evans (1917-1918)
18. Joseph Clarke (1918-1920)
19. David Milwyn Duggan (1920-1923)
20. Kenneth Blatchford (1923-1926)
21. Ambrose Bury (1926-1929)
22. James McCrie Douglas (1929-1931)
23. Dan Knott (1931-1934)
24. Joseph Clarke (1934-1937)
25. John Wesley Fry (1937-1945)
26. Harry Ainlay (1945-1949)
27. Sidney Parsons (1949-1951)
28. William Hawrelak (1951-1959)
29. Frederick John Mitchell (1959)
30. Elmer Ernest Roper (1959-1963)
31. William Hawrelak (1963-1965)
32. Vincent Dantzer (1965-1968)
33. Ivor Dent (1968-1974)
34. William Hawrelak (1974-1975)
35. Terry Cavanaugh (1975-1977)
36. Cec Purves (1977-1983)
37. Laurence Decore (1983-1988)
38. Terry Cavanaugh (1988-1989)
39. Jan Reimer (1989-1995)
40. Bill Smith (1995-2004)
41. Stephen Mandel (2004-2013)
42. Don Iveson (2013-Present)