Showing 96 results

People and organizations
Saskatoon (Sask.)

Wright, Cliff, 1927-2014

  • Person
  • 1927-2014

Clifford Emerson Wright was born on September 21, 1927 to Sam and Ada Wright of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His early education was at Albert and Victoria Schools, before attending Nutana Collegiate high school, whereupon he studied engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, but left prior to graduating. After leaving university, Wright became an apprentice carpenter with Smith Brothers and Wilson, with whom he would rise to become Saskatchewan Manager and Vice President in 1970. In 1987 he bought the Saskatchewan assets of the firm and established the company Wright Construction. In addition to this private enterprise, Wright became involved in local politics and served on Saskatoon City Council from 1967 until 1976, when he was elected mayor. He would serve as Saskatoon's mayor four consecutive terms until his retirement in 1988. In addition, at various time he was member (1965-1976) and chair (1969-1976) of the University Hospital Board, chair of the Saskatchewan Potash Corporation (1983), president of the Saskatchewan Futures Corporation (1988), and chair of the Saskatoon District Health Board (1992-1995). Of note Wright also served as Treaty Land Entitlement Commissioner from 1989-1993, during which he worked worked the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, federal and provincial governments to settle land claims for twenty-five (25) First Nations in Saskatchewan. Wright also found time to be involved with organizations such as the YMCA and YWCA, Saskatchewan Abilities Council, Cosmopolitan Industries, Parenting Incorporated, the United Way, and Big Brothers.

During his life he received honours such as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan (1988); CFQC Citizen of the Year (1988); Canada 125 Medal (1992); Officer of the Order of Canada (1998); Saskatchewan Order of Merit (1999); and Saskatchewan Centennial Medal (2005).

Wright died in Saskatoon, on December 9, 2014.

Wright married his wife Betty Dye in 1951 and together had four children (sons Lorne, Jack, Don, and daughter Nancy).

Wilson, Doug, 1950-1992

  • PA 299
  • Person
  • 1950-1992

Douglas Wilson was born in 1950 in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan, with majors in Art and History. He taught public school in Makwa, Saskatchewan, in 1969-1970 and 1973-1974. He did post-graduate work in Educational Foundations at the University of Saskatchewan between 1974 and 1976. During this period, he worked as a sessional lecturer and supervisor of practice teaching for the College of Education.

While living in Saskatoon during the early 1970s, Wilson was actively and visibly involved in the gay liberation movement. He was instrumental in the organization and administration of groups such as the Zodiac Friendship Society (later the Gay Community Centre of Saskatoon) and the Saskatchewan Gay Coalition. The latter organization fought for the human rights of homosexuals in the province, and in the late 1970s, Wilson was the group's leading activist.

On September 22, 1975, Dean J. Kirkpatrick of the College of Education suspended Wilson's work as a supervisor of practice teaching in public schools, on the grounds of Wilson's open admission of his homosexuality and his public involvement in the gay liberation movement. A Committee to Defend Doug Wilson was formed to fight the university's action, and Wilson placed a formal complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. The inquiry was never held, as the Court of Queen's Bench ruled that sexuality was not covered by The Fair Employment Practices Act.

In 1978, Wilson became the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Association on Human Rights, a position which he held until 1983. In 1983, he and his partner Peter McGehee moved to Toronto, Ontario where he worked for the Toronto Board of Education's Race Relations office. Wilson became the first openly gay candidate to run in a federal election, when he ran unsuccessfully as the NDP candidate for Rosedale in the 1988 election.

Wilson died in Toronto in 1992.

Ward, Norman (Dr.), 1918-1990

  • PA 477
  • Person
  • 1918-1990

Norman McQueen Ward was born in Hamilton, Ontario on May 10, 1918 to Arthur and Rachel (McQueen) Ward. He attended Hamilton Central Collegiate Institute and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University in 1941. He obtained Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Toronto in 1943 and 1949 respectively.

Around 1945, Ward was employed as an instructor in the Department of Economics and Political Science at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He became a professor in 1955 and remained on the faculty until his retirement in 1985. In 1967, Ward was named Britnell Professor, a designation assigned to senior members of the department for their distinguished service. Ward was a Maurice Cody Research Fellow at the University of Toronto (1947-1948) and the Skelton-Clark Fellow at Queen's University (1958-1959).

During his professional career, Ward also served on numerous federal and provincial committees, commissions and task forces, including the Electoral Boundaries Commission for Saskatchewan (1964-1966) and the Canada Council (1974-1980). He was a trustee for the Mendel Art Gallery (1979-1986) and the Forum for Young Canadians and was chairman of the Saskatchewan Archives Board (1982-1985). Ward served on the National Advisory Board for "The Canadian Encyclopedia" in 1985. He died in Saskatoon on February 6, 1990.

Ward made a significant contribution to scholarly and humorous literature. Focusing on federal-provincial affairs and the House of Commons, Ward wrote numerous articles and books including "The Canadian House of Commons: Representation (1950)"; and "Public Purse: A Study in Canadian Democracy" (1962). He edited several editions of Robert MacGregor Dawson's "The Government of Canada" and "Democratic Government in Canada" by R.M. Dawson and W.F. Dawson. Ward edited "Politics in Saskatchewan" with Duff Spafford (1968) and "Bilingualism and Biculturalism in the Canadian House of Commons" with D. Hoffman (1968). Ward's humorous essays were published in three volumes: "Mice in the Beer" (1960); "The Fully Processed Cheese" (1964) and "Her Majesty's Mice" (1977). During his retirement, Ward researched and co-wrote a biography with David Smith entitled "Jimmy Gardiner: Relentless Liberal", which was published posthumously.

Ward was the recipient of many awards and honours, including the Leacock Medal for Humour for "Mice in the Beer" (1961). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1963); named an Officer of the Order of Canada (awarded in 1974; invested in 1976); and was awarded many honorary degrees from universities across Canada, including a posthumous honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan. The Dr. Norman Ward Memorial Scholarship in Political Science is offered annually by the University of Saskatchewan. The library of the Department of Political Studies at the U of S is also named in his honour.

Ward married Betty Edith Davis on September 11, 1943. The Wards had six children: Nora, Nancy, Norman, Donald, Colin and Michael.

Walker, Robert Alexander (1916-1989)

  • Person
  • March 6, 1916 - March 28, 1989

Robert A. Walker was born in Regina on March 6, 1916. He went to school in Mazenod and Moose Jaw and obtained a law degree at the University of Saskatchewan. He spent 3 years with the RCAF during WWII.

Walker practiced law in Saskatoon until he entered politics. He became the CCF MLA for Hanley in the 1948 election, and was re-elected in 1952, 1956 and 1960. After a successful recount in the 1964 election, he continued as MLA until he was defeated in 1967.

Walker served as attorney general in the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation governments from 1956 until the CCF was defeated in 1964. During that time he spearheaded a drive to streamline the operation of the courts and the department. Among the innovations brought to the judicial system while Walker was attorney general were electronic recordings of court cases and the introduction of small-claims courts to the province.

Walker married Rosa Nagel in 1941 and they had 3 sons.

After Walker was defeated in 1967 he returned to Saskatoon to resume his law practice until his retirement to Victoria in 1984. Robert Walker died on March 28, 1989.

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