When the Block reverted to the Province of British Columbia in 1930 the first election returned an outsider. He was Clive Planta, who came North to campaign, was elected, and was never seen in the area again until the next election. In 1937 the constituency was tired of being neglected — as they said at the time, “being the step-child of British Columbia”. The Liberal party, strong and well-organized, put up Glen Braden as a candidate. The more disgruntled had also organized under a more radical party, known at the time as the C.C.F. (Canadian Commonwealth Federation). When Clive Planta reappeared as an Independent with reputedly strong financial backing, the three-way split left the outcome until the last few polls were counted. Glen Braden won.
At that time there was no communication except by rail with Victoria, and that was via the Northern Alberta Railway. This meant a full day’s journey to Edmonton, then by C.N.R. or C.P.R. to Vancouver and then, as now, by ferry to Victoria. Glen had to leave his many business interests in other hands during his long absences.
He was an unflagging press agent for his beloved North Country. The Hon. W.A.C. Bennett, later Premier of the Province, sat next to Glen as a backbencher in the legislature. He once told in a public meeting that Glen’s continual presenting of the needs of the Peace River Block fired Mr. Bennett to come and see for himself what it was all about.
Perhaps the most important incident was Mr. Braden’s flourishing of the Peace River Block News before the Assembly, to show the black headline announcing the formation of a “Join Alberta Association” in Dawson Creek. The action was not a criticism of their member, but of the apathy of the Government. Actually, the Association was more or less a joke, but the Member made the most of it. Repercussions got all the way back to Edmonton, and even Ottawa. In the next year or so no fewer than six provincial cabinet ministers made their way into the constituency. The outcome was the beginning of the John Hart Highway, the long-promised outlet to the coast.
Mr. Braden was continuously interested in anything that was for the good of the Peace River country. He strongly supported the first gas drilling, agriculture, the settlement of the Sudeten Colony and any improvement of roads and air facilities.
Another of Mr. Braden’s great concerns was for the United Church in Dawson Creek, to which he and his wife, Louisa, devoted much time and effort. They had much to do with the present building, where he is commemorated by a stained glass window and a carillon.
The late Mrs. Louisa Braden contributed the following biographical notes about her husband:
“Glen E. Braden was born July 19, 1899, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended Aberdeen School and King George High in that city. In 1916 with his mother and three brothers — Clive, Ern, and Lyle — he left the coast to homestead in the Peace River near Rolla, B.C. Another brother, Ross, was overseas in the First World War and later joined them.
They homesteaded 12 years, moving to Rolla in 1928, where Glen and his brothers went into business selling farm machinery, cars, oil, and gas.
In 1930 he married Louisa Gordon of Vancouver, and had three children. In 1933 they moved to Dawson Creek where Glen was BA Oil agent for the BC Peace River Block until 1954.
He was always interested in community affairs and in 1937 was elected on the Liberal ticket to the BC Legislature where he served until 1945. He was elected again in 1949 and served for 3 more years. In 1952 an election was called when the Social Credit Party took over the government.
Glen turned to local community affairs. He was President of the Dawson Creek Board of Trade for 2 terms. He was magistrate for 2 years, and was elected as Mayor of the city of Dawson Creek for two terms (1962-65), but resigned in 1964 as he felt the strain of office too demanding.
In April 1965, the Glen Bradens left Dawson Creek to reside in Calgary, Alberta. Glen died in Calgary in December of 1967, at the age of 68.