Ewart, David, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works, Ottawa, was born at Penicuik, near Edinburgh, Scotland, on February 18, 1843. He was educated in his native place and at the Edinburgh School of Art, where he obtained a thorough grounding in architecture. In 1871, four years after the establishment of Canadian Confederation, he was appointed Assistant Engineer and Architect of the Department of Public Works for Canada, and took up his residence in Ottawa. In 1897 he was promoted to the position of Chief Architect. In the early days of his service he had charge of the completion of the main tower of the beautiful Parliament Buildings at Ottawa, which were destroyed by fire during the great war. He also took charge of the erection of the Canadian buildings at the Paris Exposition, the Chicago World’s Fair and at other famous international expositions. He was decorated by the French Government, and in 1903 was honored by the King with the Imperial Service Order. He was appointed a Member of the Board of Assessors in connection with additions to the Parliament Buildings at Ottawa in 1906, and was elected a Councillor of the Royal Architects Institute of Canada in 1909. In government circles he is looked on as one of the Nestors of the civil service. In May, 1877, he married Margaret Segsworth, daughter of Segsworth Simpson, Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, and resides at 135 Cameron Street, Ottawa.
Armstrong, Samuel, M.P.P. (Parry Sound, Ont.), one of the early pioneers of the District of Muskoka and Parry Sound, having settled in Muskoka in 1862, and Parry Sound in January, 1867. Many miles of the old Colonization Roads were made by him for the Government in Parry Sound District. He was interested in lumbering and saw mills, also railroad contracting, besides keeping a general store at McKellar, Ont., until elected M.P.P. for Parry Sound District, December 26, 1886. In May, 1895, he was appointed Sheriff of Parry Sound, which office he still holds; acted as reeve for McKellar Township for twelve years, and is a member of the Orange Order and Royal Templars. His parents were Samuel and Harriett Hughes Armstrong and he was born in Ireland, town of New Ross, County of Wexford, February 24, 1844, and educated at the Public Schools of Thorold and Toronto. He was married to Catharine Taylor, daughter of John and Elizabeth Taylor, Lanark County, Ont., and has five children—Harriett Elizabeth, John Egbert, Frank, Milton Taylor and Mary Emma Winnifred. In politics he styles himself an Independent, is a member of the Methodist Church and a delegate to the Toronto and Winnipeg Conferences.
McNeil, Most Reverend Neil (Toronto, Ont.), Archbishop of Toronto since 1912, when he was transferred from the Archbishopric of Vancouver, B.C., to which he was appointed in January, 1910, was born at Mabou, N.S., November 23, 1851, the son of Malcolm McNeil and Ellen Meagher. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier College, Antigonish, N.S.; in 1873 he entered the College of the Propaganda in Rome, where he remained for six and a half years. He was ordained Priest in 1879, in the Basilica of John Latern by the late Cardinal Patrizzi, and in the same year received the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Divinity, afterwards making a post-graduate course of one year in the University of Marseilles, France. He joined the staff of St. Francis Xavier College in 1880, and was Rector of the College from 1884 to 1891. He became Bishop of Nilopolis and Vicar Apostolic of St. George’s, west coast of Newfoundland, being consecrated at St. Ninan’s Cathedral, Antigonish, 1895. During the war Archbishop McNeil especially endeared himself to all classes of the community by his active support of all patriotic enterprises, no matter what their religious complexion.
Harris, William Gean (Toronto), is one of the pioneers and leaders of the metal industry in Canada. He was born in the Muskoka district of Ontario on February 17, 1862, the son of William Gean and Mary (Hunter) Harris. He was educated in the Toronto public schools and at the age of 18 started his present business in a small way. It has now developed into the Canada Metal Manufacturing Company, Ltd., and is engaged in smelting ores, making lead pipe, rolling sheet lead, and the manufacture of brass bullets and shells. Its wares are known throughout the Dominion of Canada, the result of 30 years of constant expansion and progressive methods. The Harris organization is now recognized as one of the indispensable factors in Canadian industry of the most diverse aspects. In building up this great industry Mr. Harris has for a considerable number of years been blessed with the active assistance of his son. By instinct a captain of industry his chief recreation in leisure hours is the study of the betterment of conditions relating to business in all its phases. Mr. Harris is a member of the A.F. & A.M., I.O.F., A.O.F., S.O.E., a Conservative in politics and a Methodist in religion. In 1887 he married Ada Florence Grove, daughter of George Grove of England, and has one son and one daughter. Mr. Harris’s business address is Fraser Ave., Toronto, and his home is at 408 Indian Road in that city.
MacDonald, Donald D. (Toronto, Ont.), Public School Principal, son of John F. MacDonald and Jean Smith, was born at Bowmanville, Durham County, Ont., on July 24, 1874, and received his education at the Clark Union Public School, the Bowmanville High School, the Toronto Normal School and the Hamilton Normal College. He subsequently took the University course in Arts extra-murally and graduated with B.A. degree in 1915. He married Laura Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, of Toronto, and to them was born one son, Donald Stewart. Mr. MacDonald was one of a family of five boys, four of whom entered the teaching profession for a time, and one of whom, Dr. N. S. MacDonald, B.A., in addition to himself, is still in the profession as one of the Public School Inspectors of Toronto. He enjoyed the advantage of being brought up in the country, the public school which he first attended being two miles distant from his home. When but a lad he determined to follow the vocation of teaching and trained himself to this end. He secured his Primary and Second-Class Teaching Certificates at the Bowmanville High School, and at once embarked upon his career as a teacher, taking charge of the public school at Providence, three miles out of Bowmanville, for three years. He then entered the course at the Toronto Normal School, achieving high academic progress and graduating with honors in 1897. For the succeeding three years Mr. MacDonald taught at Audley, near Pickering, after which, in order to complete his training, he returned to the Bowmanville High School for two years and secured his Senior Leaving Certificate. Having subsequently taught in Barrie for four months, he was appointed vice-Principal of Annette Street School, West Toronto, and three and one-half years later became its principal. During the three years he occupied this position, prior to the annexation of the Town of West Toronto to the city of Toronto, Mr. MacDonald passed the Normal College examination extra-murally, obtaining a first-class professional certificate. He was then transferred to the Niagara Street School, Toronto, of which he was Principal for over two years, when he was promoted to the Principalship of McMurrich School, in which position he served for 6½ years. Still carrying on his extensive studies, Mr. MacDonald graduated extra-murally in Arts from the Western University, and is now qualifying for the degree of D.Paed. In September, 1918, he became Principal of the Orde Street Model School, the new practice school for Normal School students. Apart from his educational activities, Mr. MacDonald has taken considerable interest in public affairs. He has been a member of the session of Victoria Presbyterian Church for some years. He was the Master of Victoria Lodge, in 1917, A.F. & A.M., No. 474, G.R.C. He is also a member of Shekinah Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. Mr. MacDonald’s parents were both Scottish. In politics he is a Conservative. Mr. MacDonald’s life thus far has been much devoted to study along with his regular educational duties.