Ewing, William, one of the best known of the younger business men of Montreal, was born in that city on May 4th, 1884, the son of William and Catherine Kinross Ewing. He was educated at Montreal High School and at L’Assomption College, L’Assomption, Quebec. On leaving college about sixteen years ago he joined the business of his father, who had established the firm of William Ewing & Co., Wholesale Seedsmen, at Montreal, in 1869. When the firm was re-organized as a joint stock corporation with the title of the William Ewing Co., Ltd., in 1913, the subject of this sketch became Secretary-Treasurer and also a Director. Formerly Mr. Ewing was known on the football field throughout Eastern Canada and is President of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union and also of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association Football Club. He is an active member of the M.A.A.A. and also of the Caledonian Society of Montreal. His recreations are fishing and football and he has also interested himself in military affairs and holds a commission as lieutenant in the 1st Regiment, G.G. of C. On July 22nd, 1910, he married Isabel Swanson Forbes, a daughter of Mr. George E. Forbes of the well-known firm of Forbes Bros., Wholesale Grocers, Montreal. He has two children, Isabel Graham, born May 10th, 1912, and William, born Dec. 26th, 1914. In religion he is a Presbyterian and resides at 329 Addington Ave., Notre Dame de Grace, Montreal.
Kelso, John Joseph (Toronto, Ont.), Journalist and Social Worker, has resided in Toronto since childhood, but was born in Dundalk, Ireland, March 31, 1864, son of George and Anna Kelso, descendants of Scotch Covenanters. Took up Journalism in 1886 and was for several years member of the “Globe” staff. Devoted to philanthropy, has written thousands of columns on Social Welfare. Organized Toronto Humane Society in 1886-7; Children’s Fresh Air Fund in 1888; Children’s Aid Society, 1891; Playgrounds Association, 1908; was mainly responsible for educational propaganda leading to passing of Children’s Protection Act by Ontario Government, and under its provision was appointed General Superintendent of Neglected and Dependent Children, and Inspector of Industrial Schools. In its initial stages Mr. Kelso had much to do with the inauguration of the Juvenile Court movement, having addressed the Waif Saving Congress on the subject at the World’s Fair, Chicago, in October, 1893. He was also one of the first advocates of Widowed Mothers’ Aid and Workmen’s Compensation Boards. In March, 1898, Mr. Kelso addressed the Legislature of Manitoba and British Columbia and they unanimously agreed to adopt the Ontario system of child protection. In 1905 he visited Nova Scotia with the same successful result; in 1908 Saskatchewan, and in 1913, New Brunswick. All Canada now follows the same methods of carrying on Child Welfare work, Mr. Kelso having organized over two hundred and fifty Children’s Aid Societies, in addition to Social Settlements, etc. Started Canadian Conference of Charities and Correction in 1897 and was elected Vice-President; was also elected Vice-President of National (U.S.) Conference of Charities in 1902. Represented Ontario at Conference on Child Welfare called by President Roosevelt and also at International Prison Congress held in Washington. These Conferences led to many present-day reforms. In 1903-5 Mr. Kelso performed notable service for the Province by emptying the Ontario Reformatory for Boys at Penetanguishene and the Ontario Refuge for Girls, by providing homes and situations for all the inmates. These institutions were converted into Hospitals for the Insane. Is still engaged in the work. Was married, 1901, to Irene Madden Martin, of Nashville, Tenn., and has two children, a son and daughter. Is Elder and S.S. Superintendent of St. James’ Square Presbyterian Church. He resides at 21 Prince Arthur Ave.
Douglas, William James (Toronto, Ont.), Journalist, is the General Manager of the “Mail and Empire,” one of the leading Canadian dailies and influential exponent of the Liberal-Conservative thought in Ontario. He is a son of the late James S. Douglas, A.M., M.D., Ph.D., and Frances Boardman, and was born in Hamilton, N.Y., U.S.A., May 28, 1846. After education at Milwaukee, Wis., he came to Canada in 1877, where he has held his present position for many years. Mr. Douglas married Eliza, daughter of Jeremiah Riordan, Surgeon in the Royal Navy, in 1868, and has four children—William, James S., Howard R. and Amy Douglas. He was formerly Vice-President of the National Club, and is a Trustee of the Toronto General Hospital, and of the Canadian Associated Press, of which he was a promoter. A Presbyterian in religion and a Conservative in politics. Mr. Douglas numbers among his clubs the National and Albany of Toronto, the Rideau of Ottawa, the Caledon Mountain Trout Club and the Cuckoo Valley Fishing Club. Is a Justice of the Peace for the County of York.
Delage, Cyrille F., Notary Public (Quebec City, Que.), son of J. B. Delage and Mary E. E. Fraser, was born in the above place, May 1, 1869, and received his education at Quebec Seminary and Laval University, Quebec, from which last he graduated with the degrees of L.B., LL.B., and LL.D. In 1894, Mr. Delage married Alice, daughter of Telesphore Boursseau and Celina Genest, by whom he has four children—Paul-Edouard, Maurice, Emile, and Marguerite. To-day, this distinguished Canadian holds the following public offices: Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Province of Quebec; officer d’Acadamie (France); member, Royal Society of Canada, French Section; Hon. President of the Quebec Provincial Exhibition Commission; President, Canadian Patriotic Fund, Quebec Branch; President National War Saving Committee, Quebec Branch; Honorary President of Society of Education, Canada; President, Catholic Committee, Council Public Instruction, Quebec; Member Protestant Committee, Council Public Instruction; and member Conseil des Arts et Metiers, Quebec. Council of Agriculture. At the time of his appointment as Superintendent of Public Instruction, the “Quebec Telegraph” said editorially: “Undoubtedly the Legislature will lose by his disappearance from it, but the Province will unquestionably be a large gainer by the transfer of his abilities, experience, and congenial tastes to the Department of Public Instruction.” A Liberal in politics and a Roman Catholic in religion, Mr. Delage is a member of the Canadian and Garrison Clubs of Quebec City, in addition to the Union St. Joseph, St. Roch; Union St. Joseph, Beauport; Artisans Canadiens-français; Alliance Nationale; Royal Arcanum, and the Independent Order of Foresters.
Hocken, Norman Cecil (Otter Lake Station, Ont.), Lumberman, the son of Henry Hocken and Lucina Soper, was born in Bowmanville, Ont., November 28, 1880, and educated at the Bowmanville Public School. His father being in the lumber business, he naturally came much in contact with that line of business, so deciding to strike out for himself in 1903, he became connected with the Victoria Harbor Lumber Company, and the Charlton Sawmill Company, finally going into business for himself and at the present time is owner of four sawmills and upwards of fifty square miles of timber limits. In politics he is a Reformer and was nominated by the Liberal party as their standard-bearer for the constituency of Parry Sound, for the House of Commons, to represent them at the next Dominion Election. Mr. Hocken is a member of the Methodist Church, of the Board of Trade of the City of Toronto, of the Ontario Club, Toronto, and of the Masonic Order. He married the daughter of James Kydd, and has five children—Bernice, Melvin, Loydd, Ralph and Robert.