Cecil John Harry "Cec" Purves (born October 18, 1933) is a politician in Alberta, Canada, who served as mayor of Edmonton.
[3] Purves' first bid for political office took place during the 1964 municipal election, when he ran unsuccessfully for Protestant school trustee.
While still in office, he sought the Social Credit nomination in Edmonton-Strathcona for the 1971 provincial election, but was defeated by Strathcona Centre incumbent Joseph Donovan Ross (who was defeated in the general election by Progressive Conservative Julian Koziak).
[4] Hawrelak died in office and was replaced by alderman Terry Cavanagh, who Purves challenged for mayor in the 1977 election.
Purves faced no serious opposition to his 1980 re-election bid, and won more than seventy percent of the vote.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with two of their sons, Andrew and Edward opened the Games.
In 1979, Edmontonians voted to proceed with the construction of a convention center rejecting a ballot measure that would have halted the proposal.
Prince Charles & Princess Diana attended as sponsors and opened the games which was exciting for Edmontonians.
Purves also opened the first leg of LRT and during office started the extension of this transportation system to the Government center and finished it.
Another appointment by Purves was of Fred Windwick to lead the celebration of Edmonton's 75th anniversary which was a great success.
Purves worked with the Kinsmen to build Kinsman Field House with opposition from Parks and Rec as they felt since it was on city property they should run it.
Purves was called as a bishop of a ward of The Church of Jesus, Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1974 and served until 1977.
Purves served on the Edmonton chapter of The Canadian Mental health Association and became president.