Background
Hourston was born in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland and immigrated to Canada as a young manitoba
Hourston was born in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland and immigrated to Canada as a young manitoba
Once in Edmonton, he became manager of Norris & Carey, the store co-owned by Edward Carey. He later opened a fur store and started the area"s first dairy farm. In 1896 he was elected to Edmonton Town Council as an alderman, finishing fourth of nine candidates in an election in which the top six candidates were elected.
He was re-elected in 1897, and served until his term expired in 1898.
He did not seek elected office thereafter. Thomas Hourston died in Guelph, Ontario April 11, 1905.
He is buried in Edmonton.