James Reilly was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was the sixth mayor of Calgary, Alberta.
Reilly was born in 1835 in Napierville, Quebec to immigrant parents from Ireland. In Quebec he became an architect and builder before going to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1882, then to Calgary in 1883. In Calgary he became actively involved with the local community. He played a key part in organizing a citizens group concerned about the location of the railway station that was built in Calgary. While proprietor of the Royal Hotel, he organized the first civic committee meeting on January 4, 1884. This was the first step leading to Calgarys municipal incorporation later that year.
Source: Wikipedia