John J. Garland

John James Garland (September 15, 1873[1]—March 9, 1925[2]) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1914 to 1915, as a member of the Conservative Party.

Garland was born in Bell’s Corners, Ontario, the son of Absalom Garland,[3] of Irish descent, and Isabelle Foster, and was educated in Ottawa, Ontario. He moved to Portage le Prairie in Manitoba in 1892, where he worked as a clerk and then manager in a retail business operated by his uncle, William Garland. He later became a partner and then took over ownership of the business after his uncle's death. Garland served as mayor of Portage la Prairie for two years, and was a city alderman for a further eight. He also was president of the local Board of Trade. In 1898, Garland married Kathleen Fox.[4] In religion, he was a member of the Church of England.[3]

He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1914 provincial election, defeated Liberal candidate Charles D. McPherson by ten votes in the constituency of Lakeside.[1] The Conservatives won a majority government, and Garland served as a backbench supporter of Rodmond Roblin's administration.

In 1915, the Roblin administration was forced to resign from office amid a serious corruption scandal. A new election was called, in which the Liberals won a landslide majority.[5] Garland lost to Mcpherson by 163 votes.[1]

He died in Portage la Prairie at the age of 51.[2]