Meek, Edward (Toronto, Ont.), Barrister, was born in the village of Port Stanley, Ontario, on December 27, 1844. His father, James Meek, came to Canada at the early age of three years with his parents, in 1818, from Ballymena, North of Ireland. They settled in the same year in Talbot District, and took up a tract of land near Port Stanley, being among the earliest pioneers of that part of the country. At the time of Edward’s birth his father was a carpenter and builder, but afterwards became a partner in a foundry which was carried on successfully for a number of years; but a disastrous fire destroyed the whole of the extensive establishment, and he returned to his farm, on which he remained till his death. Edward received his early education at the Port Stanley school, and afterwards at the Grammar School, St. Thomas. After leaving school, at the age of seventeen, he was granted a certificate to teach, which occupation he followed for three years. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper in a grain warehouse, at which he continued for a short time only; but thinking a short journey among strangers would improve his prospects, he went to Boston and engaged with a publishing house of a prominent firm there. After a short sojourn he returned to London, Ontario, and there commenced the study of law. In 1873 he removed to Toronto, where he continued his studies and finished his law course in the office of Harrison, Osler and Moss, three gentlemen who afterwards became distinguished judges. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in the spring of 1874, and he then formed a partnership with the Hon. John O’Donohoe, which continued for four years, when it was dissolved. He then opened an office of his own until he formed a partnership with the late William Norris, of Woodstock, which lasted till Mr. Norris returned to Woodstock. In 1877 he commenced to take an active part in the politics of the country, and especially in the promotion of the National Policy; in fact, he was one of the originators of the word, and travelled over Ontario assisting in the formation of political organizations to enable the National Policy party to carry their new platform to a successful issue. He continued from that time to take an active part as one of the political writers and speakers on the platform until the winter of 1884, when he and a number of other politicians conceived the idea of forming a coalition government for the Province of Ontario, their object being to do away with partyism in the local legislature. Others were brought into the scheme who were impatient of the slow method of bringing about the change by argument, and thought that a sufficient number of the members of the Legislature could be secured by offers and promises to at once defeat the Mowat Government, when the coalition could be immediately formed during the spring session of 1884. The plans were disapproved of by the originators of the idea, but the hot heads could not be kept under control, and the public know the result of the unfortunate conspiracy case which sprung from it, involving those more actively concerned in the long and tedious investigation and prosecution before a Royal Commission and in the criminal courts. The Royal Commission brought in a divided report, which the House never acted upon. The verdict of the jury in the criminal court, in the trial of May, 1885, acquitted the accused. Since that time Mr. Meek has devoted himself strictly to the practice of his profession in Toronto, and the promotion and formation of joint stock and other companies. Mr. Meek was joined in marriage, on June 30, 1873, to Anna Margaret McBride, daughter of Samuel McBride, of London, Ontario, by which union they have issue two sons and one daughter. Mr. Meek and family are members of the Church of England. Since the publication of the preceding matter in the second edition of “Representative Canadians,” about thirty years ago, Mr. Meek has continued to practise law in all its branches in the city of Toronto, and is considered a well-read lawyer, a sound legal adviser, and a successful practitioner. While carrying on his legal practice, during the past twenty-five years, he has written many thousands of “Legal Opinions,” published weekly in the Saturday edition of the “Mail & Empire” newspaper. These concise and clearly expressed statements of the law have been widely read, and highly appreciated by many thousands of readers of that journal, and have been copied in other newspapers. Mr. Meek has also written and published pamphlets; and essays on Legal and Constitutional questions in reviews and magazines which have been favorably criticized and commented upon—notably two essays comparing our Canadian System of Federalism with the American System of Federalism, entitled, “Some Observations on the Constitution of the Dominion of Canada,” published in the American Law Review of 1895, 1896; “The Legal and Constitutional Aspects of the Manitoba School Questions,” published in the “Canadian Magazine” and in pamphlet form in 1895; “Political Lessons from the Time of Cicero,” “Representative Government and Federalism,” the “Plebiscite”—an answer to an Essay published by the late Sir Geo. W. Ross—and other Essays, all to be found in the “Canadian Magazine” between 1898 and 1904; “Sunday Laws,” published in the “Canadian Law Review” in 1904; “The Mistakes made by the Framers of the Constitution of the United States of America,” and “Government and Political and Municipal Corporations,” etc., published later. In 1913 Mr. Meek published a book of 600 pages, entitled, “Business and Law,” which has had a wide circulation. Mr. Meek was created a Q.C. in 1896, but for political reasons the patent was never issued. He was, however, made a K.C. by the Ontario Government in 1908. He has recently published a few short poems which have been much admired. Now 72, he is in robust health, and his writings are as clear and concise, and his forensic abilities as convincing as 30 years ago, with the added copiousness and accuracy acquired by long years of experience. His eldest son, Mr. Charles S. Meek, is managing director of the British Pacific Engineering & Construction Company, of Vancouver, where he resides with his family, consisting of a wife and two daughters. His second son, Mr. E. J. Meek, is the chief accountant of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, and resides in Toronto with wife and two children—a son and daughter. Mr. Meek lives at 177 Jamieson Ave., with his wife and unmarried daughter, Miss Gertrude Meek.
Harris, Reginald V. (Halifax, N.S.), Barrister-at-Law, son of Rev. Canon V. E. Harris, Secretary, Diocesan Synod of Nova Scotia. Honorable W. B. Troop, M.L.A., in Holmes-Thompson Government of Nova Scotia (1878-82) grandfather; Honorable Chief Justice Harris, of Nova Scotia, uncle; was born March 21, 1881, at Londonderry, N.S.; educated at Amherst Public Schools; Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ont., and the University of Trinity College, Toronto, from which latter institution he graduated with the degree of B.A., 1902 (honors); and also received the degree of M.A., Toronto University (1910), and a similar degree from King’s University (1911). Barrister and Solicitor, Bars of Manitoba (1906) and Nova Scotia (1905). Member of Henry, Rogers, Harris & Stewart, Barristers, Halifax, since 1908. Mr. Harris is the author of the following publications: “The Governance of Empire” (1910); “Organization of a Legal Business” (1909); and is a frequent contributor to the press and magazines on Educational, Municipal and Imperial subjects. Mr. Harris has taken a large interest in the municipal affairs of the city of Halifax, of which he was Alderman (1911-13), and Controller (1913-15). He was also Vice-President of the Union of Canadian municipalities (1912-13); Vice-President, Union of Nova Scotia municipalities (1913-15); Commissioner of Schools, Halifax (1911-14); Chairman, School Board, Halifax (1913-14). Appointed Lieutenant 246th Overseas Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Forces, September, 1916. Captain and District Casualty Officer, Military District No. 6, June, 1917; District Military Representative (M.S.A.), October, 1917; Chief Public Representative, N.S. (M.S.A.), February to October, 1918. Is Governor and Treasurer of King’s College, Windsor, N.S.; member of Diocesan, Provincial and General Synods of Church of England in Canada; member and Secretary Board of Management, King’s College School, Windsor, N.S.; member of Council, Halifax Board of Trade (1911-14); President Commercial Club, Halifax (1914-15); member of the City Club, Halifax, and also a member and Secretary (N.S.) of the Royal Colonial Institute. Chairman Halifax Centre St. John Ambulance Association; District Superintendent St. John Ambulance Brigade; Esquire, Order of Hospital of St. John, December, 1917. In religion, a member of the Church of England, and in politics a Conservative. Mr. Harris married, June 4, 1907, Ethel W., daughter of Edmund G. Smith, merchant, of Halifax, and has two sons, R. Gordon Harris and Arthur St. G. Harris.
Sutherland, Donald (Ingersoll, Ont.), son of Robert Sutherland and Elizabeth Hutchison, both born in the County of Oxford, of Scotch parentage; born in West Zorra, Oxford County, April 8, 1863. Educated in the local county schools. Married, April 22, 1896, to Minnie Pearl Hossack. First elected to the council of North Oxford Township in 1896. Reeve during 1897 and 1898; County Commissioner for the Town of Ingersoll, North and West Oxford, 1901-2. Elected to represent South Oxford in the Ontario Legislature at the general elections held on May 29, 1902. Election unsuccessfully protested, re-elected at the general election, January 25, 1905. Seconded the address in reply to speech from the throne at the session of 1907. Defeated by a small majority at the general election, June 8, 1908. A candidate at the general election for the House of Commons on October 26 of the same year, and again defeated by a small majority. Appointed director of Colonization and Immigration for the Province of Ontario by the Whitney Government, March 10, 1909, when an active campaign was entered upon in Great Britain by provincial officers to promote immigration to the Province, and the system of advancing assisted passage to farm laborers and domestic servants was adopted. Resigned as Director of Colonization, August 8, 1911, to become a candidate for the House of Commons at the general elections held on Sept. 21, 1911, in response to a unanimous nomination tendered him by the Liberal-Conservative Association of the Riding, when he was elected over the late representative, and re-elected at the general elections held in December, 1917. Moved the address in reply to the speech from the throne at the special war session of August, 1914. Mr. Sutherland is a practical farmer, and extremely popular with all classes. He was the first Conservative elected to represent the riding in the Legislature, and also in the House of Commons. He is the father of seven children, viz.: Robert Bruce, William Evans, Donald Baikie, James Burleigh, John Angus, Jean Elizabeth and Olive Helen. The eldest, Robert Bruce, enlisted at 17 years of age and went overseas with the 1st Canadian Contingent, served at the front in France and Belgium, 1915-16, qualified as pilot in the Royal Air Force and served in Egypt and Palestine under Generals Murray and Allenby during 1917-18 until the end of the war; promoted to a Captaincy and Flight Commander, and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conspicuous gallantry. William Evan also enlisted at 18 years, and was a member of the R.A.F. at close of war. Mr. Sutherland is a Presbyterian and a member of the Masonic Order.
McInenly, William, Electrical Contractor, was born at Sillery, Quebec, January 20, 1874. He was educated at the Quebec Commercial Academy from which he graduated in 1888. From 1889 to 1910 he was engaged in the lumber business in Quebec, and in 1911 started in the electrical machinery business in Ottawa, and at once became General-Manager of the “Mac Electric Company,” whose works and offices are at 52 Queen Street, Ottawa. While the company has never undertaken the wiring of residences, ordinary apartment houses, or accepted any like contracts, it repairs anything electrical from an electric iron to a 500 horse-power electric motor. Among the principal electrical contracts accepted by the firm and carried out to completion are the New Ottawa Gas Company plant, the Ottawa Electric Company’s new plant on Middle Street, and the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Company plant on Albert Street. Every kind of electrical machinery is built by the company—motors, dynamos, generators, etc. Mr. McInenly is the son of the late James McInenly, lumber merchant, and Ellen M. Paul. On June 19, 1901, he married Miss Norah Ahearn, the daughter of the late Maurice Ahearn, who became distinguished as an artist, and a brother of Thomas Ahearn, president of the Ottawa Electric Railway Company, etc. He has four sons, James, Maurice, Bertram and Thomas. He is Chairman of the Electrical Dealers and Contractors Association of Ottawa, is a director of Weir & Company, Limited, Ottawa, manufacturers of aerated waters; a director and secretary-treasurer of the Simmons Printing Company, of Ottawa, and of the Ottawa Electrotype foundry. He is connected with the following clubs: The Canadian, Laurentian, Rideau Curling and Golf, and the Peckanoc Fish and Game. His principal recreations are fishing and curling. In religion he is a Roman Catholic. In politics, Independent. His residence is 439 Elgin Street, Ottawa.
Belcourt, Hon. Napoleon Antoine, Senator (Ottawa). Parents, Ferdinand Napoleon Belcourt and Marie-Anna Clair; profession, barrister-at-law. Was born at Toronto, September 15, 1860. Educated at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Three Rivers, in arts and Laval University in law. Graduated at Laval in Law, Master of Laws, cum summa dignitate 1882. Admitted to the Quebec Bar, July, 1882; Ontario Bar, September, 1884. Member of Law Faculty, Ottawa University, since 1891. An LL.D. of Ottawa University (1895); also LL.D. of Laval University. Crown Attorney for Carleton County, June, 1894, to May, 1896. Resigned to become candidate for House of Commons. K.C. in Ontario and Quebec Provinces. Founder and First President of the Club National d’Ottawa, retaining that office for ten years consecutively. Former Vice-President of Ontario Liberal Association; first elected to House of Commons at general election, 1896; re-elected 1900, and general election 1904, his majority being nearly 2,000. Elected Speaker of the House of Commons, March 12, 1904, and sworn as Privy Councillor, January 11, 1905. Resigned his seat in House of Commons and appointed to the Senate November, 1907. First President, Ottawa Hunt Club; member, Rideau Club, Ottawa; Reform Club, Montreal; Reform Club, Toronto; University Club, Ottawa; President, Connaught Park Jockey Club of Ottawa also member of Country and other Clubs. Married (1st) Jan. 29, 1889, to Hectorine, eldest daughter of Hon. Jos. Shehyn; (2nd) Jan. 9, 1903, to Mary Margaret Haycock, of Ottawa. Hon. Mr. Belcourt has taken a prominent part since the inception of the war in promoting recruiting and in the work of the Patriotic Fund, Red Cross and other kindred war activities. As leader in the defence of the French language in the schools of Ontario he has on the platform and in many pamphlets, as well as before the Courts of Canada, and the Privy Council, earnestly and constantly labored for the preservation and propagation of the French language in the Dominion and for the development of a spirit of true national unity.