L’Esperance, Hon. David Ovide (Quebec City), Member of the Senate and Chairman of the Harbor Commission of Quebec, was born in the thriving town of Montmagny, in the County of Montmagny, in the Province of Quebec. He is the son of Edouard L’Esperance, his mother’s maiden name having been Morin. His career as a business man, banker and broker, has been a successful one, his connection with sundry influential exploiting firms having given him an influence in public circles which has been enhanced by his acumen as a parliamentarian. He has been for years a Director of the Quebec Railway Light, Heat and Power Co., a Director and President of the Quebec Exposition Board, President of the Grande Allee Apartments Company, and President of L’Evenement Publishing Company. He is President of the Amable Belanger, Ltd., Manufacturing Co., Montmagny, and of the General Car & Machinery Works of the same place. His prominence as a successful business man and his influence as a public-spirited citizen, did not fail to bring him into touch with the political circles of the Conservative Party; and in the year 1911 he was elected a Member of the Federal Parliament for Montmagny. While a member of the House of Commons, his influence as a deliberate speaker and his industry as a member of committees were acknowledged by all associated with him in parliamentary work; and, when the vacancy occurred on the Harbor Commission of Quebec, on the withdrawal of Sir William Price, he was selected to succeed the latter as Chairman of that Board. In July, 1917, he was called to the Senate. His efforts to improve the harbor facilities of the port of Quebec have been appreciated and seconded by the Federal Government and his associates in office, with due recognition of his public spirit and energy by his fellow-citizens and the country at large. In 1888, he married Miss Clara Dionne, of Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, of the Province of Quebec. Their family residence is on Ste. Genevieve Avenue, and their summer residence at Percé, Co. of Gaspé. Mr. L’Esperance has won for himself a prominence in all the movements that have had for their purpose the advancement of the city in which he has his home. He is a loyal Quebecer. As a Conservative, he has won an influential place in his party. And as a philanthropist he has won the good opinion of his fellow-men and co-workers.
O’Reilly, His Honor James Redmond, is the eldest son of the late James O’Reilly, Q.C., M.P., and Mary Jane (Redmond), born at Kingston, Ontario, February 14, 1862, and educated at Regiopolis College, Kingston, Collegiate Institute, Kingston, St. Mary’s (Jesuit) College, Montreal, and Queen’s University, Kingston, from which latter institution he graduated with the degree of B.A., and Gold Medal in Political Economy in 1882. Called to the Bar, May, 1885. Created a K.C., 1899, successfully practised his profession at Prescott for several years until his appointment as Senior County Judge for Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, in March, 1900. His Honor was formerly a Liberal. President of the South Grenville Liberal Association for 13 years. Married December 31, 1889, Rose Mary, fourth daughter of the late James Bermingham, and is the father of two children: James, born November 16, 1891, and Wm. H., born December 26, 1896. In religion the Judge is Roman Catholic. He resides at Cornwall, Ont., and is a member of the Cornwall Club. In earlier years Judge O’Reilly had some military experience, being Bombardier in Wellington Field Battery.
Keefe, R. Daniel (Penetanguishene, Ont.), Principal of the High School of that town; was born at Iroquois, Ont., June 10, 1877, and is the son of Patrick Keefe, a native of Cork, Ireland, who came to this country when a child and later settled on the St. Lawrence in the Town of Iroquois and became a builder and contractor, erecting a large planing mill, installed an electric light plant for the Town and bought the waterworks system which was afterwards sold to the municipality. Principal Keefe’s mother was of United Empire Loyalist descent. He was educated at the Iroquois High School, McGill University, Montreal, and the University of Toronto, and the School of Pedagogy, Hamilton. Graduated in 1901 with the degree of B.A., Toronto University. On graduating, taught successively in the High Schools of Port Elgin, Colborne and Gananoque, and was then appointed Principal of the Penetanguishene High School, where he has been for over twelve years teaching Science and Classics. Principal Keefe has the reputation of being one of the best after-dinner speakers in Northern Ontario. Besides the father, one brother, W. S. Keefe, a School of Science graduate in Electrical Engineering, survives. Principal Keefe has been an active member of the Carnegie Library Board, having acted as Secretary and Chairman of the Buying Committee for several years. Is President also of the Penetanguishene Hospital. Married in 1905 to Ethel Madeline, daughter of Norval Manning, of Toronto, and is the father of two children, Beverley Hartle, born 1913, and Wilbur Neville, born 1916. He is a member of the Masonic order, being Past Master of Georgian Lodge, No. 348, and Past Z. of Kichikewana Chapter No. 67, Midland; P.G.S. of the Grand Lodge of Canada. Is keenly interested in all manner of sports and prominent in Association football, hockey and curling. Has played football in the Champion team of Eastern Ontario and the Champions of Hamilton District League, winning the Spectator Cup. Has managed several hockey teams and is a Past President and Past Secretary-Treasurer of the Penetanguishene Curling Club, and has been one of the District Tankard Skips for the past four years. In religion, Mr. Keefe is a member of the Methodist Church, and politically, a Liberal.
MacLean, Archie, R.R. No. 4, Paisley, Ont., was born in Bruce Township, County of Bruce, in 1868, of Highland Scotch parents, and glories in the fact that he has Highland Scotch blood flowing through his veins. He attended the public school in the section in which he lived until he was about thirteen years of age, when, being the eldest of the family, he had to leave school to assist on the farm. His ambition for an education was unquenched and he studied at home, and at the age of twenty-one took a three-months’ course in the public school, secured his matriculation. He went to Port Elgin and Walkerton High School and succeeded in creditably securing a second-class certificate. He taught school for a few years, but the profession at that time not being over-remunerative, he again took up farming, and also engaged in grazing and shipping cattle, which occupation he still successfully follows. In 1901 he was elected to the Township of Bruce Council, where he served for two years. In 1903-4 he was elected to Reeveship of the Township. In 1910 he again contested the Reeveship successfully and held the office until 1912. This office he did not covet for office sake, but being enthused with the true spirit of co-operation for the benefit of all he set the log rolling for the establishment of a municipal telephone system, for the benefit of nine different municipalities, his own native township being the initiating one. This enterprise is now looked upon as the greatest example of co-operation in the whole county. In his efforts he was ably seconded by men who caught his vision. He is at present one of a commission of three, the other two being, D. McNaughton, Ex-M.P.P., and J. J. Hunter, who handle the business of this system. Mr. MacLean is a man of splendid executive ability, which has been shown by his able judgment in all public enterprises with which he has been connected. It has been said that the farmer needs ideas. In his case he has ideas—big ones—and is not afraid to champion them even in the face of strong opposition. He is a leader and a safe one to follow, because of his canny Scotch nature. He is a good public speaker and has such splendid control of himself that he has never been known to show anger even under trying circumstances. In patriotic endeavor he is always to the fore, having done his part ably and conscientiously ever since the war began. As yet he has not taken unto himself a wife. He is a Liberal in politics, and his name has often been mentioned in connection with Parliamentary honors. He is a member of Port Elgin Lodge, No. 429, A.F. & A.M., Camp McCrimmon, S.O.S., and the I.O.O.F. His genial good nature, wide knowledge of municipal affairs and splendid physique, make him an outstanding farmer in any company.
Heaton, Ernest (Toronto, Ont.), born in 1861, at Bellws-yn-Rhos, North Wales. Is the son of Rev. Hugh E. Heaton, of Plas Heaton, Denbighshire, North Wales. Educated at Marlborough College and University College, Oxford (B.A., 1884). Came to Canada on his graduation and was called to the bar of Upper Canada at Osgoode Hall, 1887. Successfully practised his profession in Toronto till 1892, when he removed to Goderich; returned to Toronto in 1900. Now manager of Heaton’s Agency, Toronto. Founded a semi-official system of publications, including Heaton’s Annual, Heaton’s Provincial Booklets and Heaton’s Handbooks of Canadian Resources. Has contributed many articles to Canadian and English magazines and is the author of “Canada’s Problem” (1895); “The Trust Company Idea and Its Development” (1904); and also editor of the “Commercial Handbook of Canada.” Married Grace, daughter of H. G. Attrill, of Baltimore and Ridgewood Park, Goderich, and is the father of the following children: Helen Grace, born 1891, married Capt. Ruggles George; Hugh Attrill, born 1893; Thomas Gilbert, born 1900; Catherine Mary, born 1893. Mr. Heaton is a member of the Toronto Golf Club, Toronto Hunt Club and Albany Club; is an adherent of the Church of England, and has been a delegate to its Synods. He is a Conservative in politics.