A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century
History
A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century
Canada -- Biography
=Scott, William Duncan=, Superintendent of Immigration for the
Government of Canada, is one of the best known citizens of this country
both at home and in other lands. He was born at Dundas, Ont., on October
7, 1861, the son of James and Margaret (McEwen) Scott. He was educated
at Dundas High School and subsequently entered a law office with a view
to qualifying himself for the legal profession. He did not, however,
complete his studies, for the virgin country of Manitoba, which was just
then being opened up to the world, called him, as in the case of many
another young man, from Eastern Canada. He went West in 1881 at the age
of twenty and entered the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway, then
in course of construction, and later was employed by the Manitoba
Government. In 1887 he was appointed Immigration Agent for that
government with offices at Winnipeg. In 1895 he removed to the city of
Toronto and continued to act as Immigration Agent for Manitoba in that
city, incidentally helping to populate the prairie province with many
desirable settlers. His general knowledge of the resources of Canada and
his qualities of good-fellowship led to his appointment as Canadian
Commissioner at the Paris Exposition of 1899; and from thence until 1903
he acted in a similar capacity at other International exhibitions, at
which the Government of Canada was represented by displays and bureaus
of information. In the latter year he was appointed Superintendent of
the Immigration Branch of the Department of the Interior and removed to
Ottawa where he has ever since resided. The period of Mr. Scott’s
appointment was that in which immigration to the Canadian North-West not
only from Europe but from the United States was at its zenith and he was
very active in assisting to build up population in the new provinces of
Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 1911 the post of Chief Controller of
Chinese Immigration under treaties newly effected with the Government of
China was added to his duties, and he is now the most important factor
in all branches of immigration in this country, with a large staff under
his control. In addition to his official labors he pursues the calling
of a practical farmer. He is a Presbyterian in religion and his
recreation is indicated by the fact that he is a member of the Royal
Ottawa Golf and Laurentian Clubs. He is also a member of the A.F. & A.M.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account