Tomorrow, August 30, 2011, is the fortieth anniversary of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Association’s first election victory. In that election the Alberta PCs, led by Peter Lougheed, defeated the 36-year governing Social Credit League led by Premier Harry Strom, and has been re-elected in each election since. Here is a look back at some of the campaign advertisements published in Alberta newspapers during that monumental election:

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad Think About It

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Think About It"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Independent"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Independent"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "A New Kind of Leader"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "A New Kind of Leader"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "We've Changed"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "We've Changed"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Lower Taxes"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Lower Taxes"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "August 30"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "August 30"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Ad "Recreation Centres"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Recreation Centres"

Alberta Progressive Conservative Rally Ad 1971 Election

Alberta Progressive Conservative Rally Ad 1971 Election

Alberta NDP 1971 Election Ad "You owe it to yourself"

Alberta NDP 1971 Election Campaign Ad "You owe it to yourself"

Alberta Social Credit Calgary Candidates 1971 Election Ad

Alberta Social Credit Calgary Candidates 1971 Election Ad

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Ad "Taking Things for Granted"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Taking Things for Granted"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Ad "It's a Big Decision"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "It's a Big Decision"

Alberta Social Credit Rally Ad 1971 Election

Alberta Social Credit Rally Ad 1971 Election

Alberta Liberal Party Calgary candidates 1971 Election Ad

Alberta Liberal Party Calgary candidates 1971 Election Ad

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Ad "Compare"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Compare"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Ad "Experienced. Respected. A New Kind of Leader. Harry Strom"

Alberta Social Credit 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Experienced. Respected. A New Kind of Leader. Harry Strom"

Alberta Progressive Conservative Calgary Candidates 1971 Election Ad "Now is the time for a breakthrough"

Alberta Progressive Conservative 1971 Election Campaign Ad "Now is the time for a breakthrough"