John Percy Page

Early Life and Teaching Career

John Percy Page was born on May 14, 1887, in Rochester, New York, to Absalom Bell Page and Elizabeth Thomas. His family relocated to Bronte, Ontario, in 1890, where he spent his formative years. Page pursued his education at Oakville Junior High School, Hamilton Collegiate Institute, and the Ontario Normal School. He furthered his studies at Queen's University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, and later received a Bachelor of Commercial Science from the American Institute of Business. His professional teaching career began in 1906 at Rothesay Collegiate in Rothesay, New Brunswick. The following year, he moved to St. Thomas Collegiate Institute in Ontario, where he taught until 1912. In 1910, he married Maude Roche, daughter of Gilbert Roche of St. Thomas, and the couple had one daughter, Patricia. In 1912, Page accepted a position in Edmonton, Alberta, tasked with introducing commercial training into the city's high school system. He served as a principal at two Edmonton high schools, including McDougall Commercial High School, and remained in the teaching profession until his retirement in 1952 after forty years of service.

Building a Basketball Dynasty: The Edmonton Grads

While serving as a teacher and principal at McDougall Commercial High School in Edmonton during the 1914 to 1915 academic year, John Percy Page took on the coaching role for the senior girls' basketball team. He continued coaching the same core group of players after their graduation, forming the amateur team that would become internationally famous as the Edmonton Grads. Page was the architect and constant leader of the team throughout its entire 25-year history from 1915 to 1940. His coaching philosophy emphasized simple, well-executed plays and demanded disciplined behaviour from his athletes. To ensure a continuous pipeline of talent, he instituted a feeder-team system that developed new players. Under his guidance, the Grads compiled one of the most remarkable records in sporting history.

The team's statistical dominance was staggering. Over their tenure, the Edmonton Grads won 502 of their 522 total games, achieving a winning percentage of .961. They were undefeated in exhibition matches held in conjunction with four consecutive Olympic Games, winning all 27 of their contests in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936. Women's basketball was not an official Olympic medal sport until 1976, so these were demonstration events. The Grads also won the Underwood International Trophy, symbolic of the world championship, for many consecutive years. Page's foundational role in this success was recognized in 1955 with his induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame as a basketball builder.

Provincial Political Career and Opposition Leadership

Following the retirement of the Edmonton Grads in 1940, John Percy Page entered provincial politics. In the 1940 Alberta general election, he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Edmonton electoral district. He ran as a member of the Independent Citizen's Association, an anti-Social Credit coalition of Conservatives, Liberals, and others. Page was re-elected in the 1944 election. From 1945 to 1948, he served as the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, providing the primary parliamentary challenge to the governing Social Credit party led by Premier Ernest Manning. His political career faced a setback in the 1948 election when he was defeated. He returned to the legislature in 1952, this time as a Progressive Conservative MLA for Edmonton. Upon his return, he was appointed House Leader for the small Progressive Conservative caucus. Voters re-elected him in the 1955 provincial election, but he lost his seat again in the 1959 election. Concurrently with his final years as an MLA, from 1957 to 1959, Page also served as a trustee on the Edmonton Public School Board.

Service as Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

In 1959, following his electoral defeat, John Percy Page was appointed as the eighth Lieutenant Governor of Alberta by Governor General Georges Vanier on the advice of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. He served in this vice-regal role for seven years, until 1966. As Lieutenant Governor, Page represented the Crown in the province, performing constitutional duties such as granting Royal Assent to legislation, opening sessions of the Legislative Assembly, and fulfilling ceremonial responsibilities. His tenure is noted within the historical roster of Alberta's lieutenant governors. Page brought to the office the experience of a former MLA and Leader of the Opposition. His term followed that of John J. Bowlen and preceded that of Grant MacEwan. During his term, he presided over the swearing-in of the Social Credit government of Premier Ernest Manning.

Honours, Awards, and Legacy

John Percy Page received several significant honours during his lifetime in recognition of his diverse contributions to sport, education, and public service. In 1961, he was appointed as a Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. That same year, the University of Alberta awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. His legacy is permanently commemorated in Edmonton through the J. Percy Page School, a public school named in his honour. His induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1955 is a national tribute to his role in building one of Canada's most successful sports teams. His life and career are documented in resources such as The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta's official biography.

• Knight of Grace, Order of St. John (1961)
• Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Alberta (1961)
• Inductee, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1955)
• Namesake of J. Percy Page School in Edmonton

Personal Life and Death

John Percy Page married Maude Roche in 1910. The couple had one daughter, Patricia Hollingsworth. Page dedicated his life to his family, his students, his athletes, and his province. He died on March 2, 1973, in Edmonton, Alberta. He is interred at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Edmonton. He is remembered as a figure who excelled in several demanding fields, from shaping world-class athletes to guiding provincial governance and representing the monarchy.

Electoral Record and Political Context

John Percy Page's political career was marked by several electoral contests, with victories and defeats reflecting the volatile political climate of mid-20th century Alberta. His first foray into politics was successful, and he served multiple terms representing Edmonton constituents. The Independent Citizen's Association, with which he was first elected, was a specific alliance formed to oppose the dominant Social Credit government. After his defeat in 1948, his return as a Progressive Conservative in 1952 aligned him with a party that would later become a major political force in the province. The table below outlines the general elections in which he was a candidate and their outcomes.

Historical Context and Lasting Significance

John Percy Page's life intersected with major periods in Alberta's development. He arrived in Edmonton in 1912, as the young province was growing rapidly. His creation of the Edmonton Grads provided a source of immense civic pride during the interwar years and the Great Depression, presenting Alberta on an international stage through sport. The team's success was a notable achievement for women's sport in Canada during an era with limited opportunities. His political career unfolded during the long reign of the Social Credit government, and as Leader of the Opposition, he was a principal figure in the legislature's debate and scrutiny of government policy. His tenure as Lieutenant Governor from 1959 to 1966 placed him in a ceremonial role during a period of economic transition and growth in the province. Within the lineage of Alberta's lieutenant governors, Page is uniquely remembered as the only one who was previously the coach of a world-famous sports team. His story exemplifies a model of community service that spanned education, sport, elected office, and vice-regal duty.

Questions about John Percy Page

What is John Percy Page most famous for?

John Percy Page is most famous for being the coach of the Edmonton Grads women's basketball team. He began coaching the team in 1915 while at McDougall Commercial High School and continued for its entire 25-year existence. Under his leadership, the Grads achieved an extraordinary record of 502 wins out of 522 games played. The team also won all 27 of their exhibition matches at four Olympic Games in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936.

What political offices did John Percy Page hold?

Page served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton, first elected in 1940. He was re-elected in 1944 and served as Leader of the Opposition from 1945 to 1948. After a defeat, he returned as an MLA from 1952 to 1959. His highest office was Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, a vice-regal position he held from 1959 to 1966. He also served as a trustee for the Edmonton Public School Board from 1957 to 1959.

What honour did John Percy Page receive in 1961?

In 1961, John Percy Page received two significant honours. He was made a Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Also in that same year, the University of Alberta awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. These honours recognized his lifetime of service in education, sports, and public life.

Where did John Percy Page go to university and what did he teach?

John Percy Page attended Queen's University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also received a Bachelor of Commercial Science degree from the American Institute of Business. He was hired by the Edmonton high school system in 1912 specifically to introduce commercial training. He taught this subject before becoming a principal at two Edmonton high schools, retiring from teaching in 1952.

When was John Percy Page inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame?

John Percy Page was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1955. He was inducted specifically as a basketball builder, an honour directly tied to his legendary coaching of the Edmonton Grads. His coaching record with the Grads was 502 wins and only 20 losses over 25 years. This remarkable achievement cemented his legacy as one of Canada's most successful sports coaches.

How long did John Percy Page serve as Lieutenant Governor and who succeeded him?

John Percy Page served as Lieutenant Governor of Alberta from 1959 to 1966. He was appointed by Governor General Georges Vanier. His successor was Grant MacEwan, who took office in 1966. MacEwan was well known as an agriculturalist, historian, and former Mayor of Calgary and Leader of the Alberta Liberal party.

Sources and further reading

• John Percy Page (Wikipedia)
• John Percy Page (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)
• Alberta's Lieutenant Governors (lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.