Julia Kiniski - Biography

Biography

Kiniski's family emigrated to Chipman, Alberta in 1912. At the age of sixteen she married her husband, Nicholas, with whom she raised six children, including wrestler Gene Kiniski. In 1936, Kiniski and her husband moved to Edmonton. He worked as a barber, making $5 a week, while she sold cosmetics and managed a café. Having dropped out of school after the seventh grade, in later life Kiniski "nrolled in University of Alberta Extension courses, studying psychology, philosophy and world affairs".

During her numerous unsuccessful campaigns for local office, Kiniski "became an accomplished, albeit unconventional, speaker". As a politician, she was "nown and loved as supporter of the common people", whose success spurred renewed civic involvement:

Her 1963 victory was said to have reinvigorated public interest in City Council. While Kiniski's outspoken criticism of city spending did not make her popular with civic administrators, her defence of the "little people" captured the public's imagination. A local radio personality, Jerry Forbes, recorded a song about her set to the tune of "Hello Dolly".

As a member of the city council, "ne of her pet projects... was her fight to support tenants in basement suites".

She died of a heart attack at the age of 70, and was succeeded in office by her son, Julian Kinisky, who won the seat vacated by his mother's death in the 1970 by-election. An elementary school in Edmonton is named for her, as is the neighborhood of Kiniski Gardens.