Jack Leslie (politician)

John (Jack) Clifford Leslie was born in Calgary in 1920. He received his primary and secondary school education in Calgary and attended the University of Alberta. With the outbreak of war, Mr. Leslie left his studies in Edmonton and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He saw four years service as a pilot. In 1942, Mr. Leslie married Jean Logan of Calgary.

Following the war, he obtained his A.A.C.I. degree from the Appraisal Institute of Canada and began to pursue a career in real estate. In 1962, he ran for City Council and was elected as the representative for Ward 4. Mr. Leslie served four years as an Alderman. He was instrumental in establishing the School Board Liaison Committee; led a successful fight to keep the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks off the banks of the Bow River; developed Nose Hill and confederation Parks; helped achieve "International" Airport status for Calgary; established the Airport Authority.

He was elected Mayor in 1965, the first native Calgarian to do so. During Mr. Leslie's term, major low- cost housing schemes were undertaken in several areas of the city including Urban Renewal efforts; the Palliser Square project was completed and the transformation of Prince's Island into one of the city's beauty spots, was begun.

He also assisted in making Deerfoot Trail a safer road by implementing plans for proper intersections and cloverleafs. Since returning to private life, Mr. Leslie has resumed his real estate appraisal business and continues to reside in Calgary with his wife Jean. [http://www.calgary.ca/DocGallery/BU/cityclerks/cmayors.pdf]

External Resources

Three Rivers Beckoned: Life & Times with Calgary Mayor Jack Leslie by Jean Leslie