Harry Marshall Erskine Evans
Encyclopedia
Henry "Harry" Marshall Erskine Evans (August 17, 1876 – September 20, 1973) was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a mayor of Edmonton
.
(which is now part of Toronto
) to the Rev. and Mrs. J.S. Evans. He was educated in Hamilton
before earning a Bachelor of Arts
from the University of Toronto
in 1897. After graduating, he attended the Michigan School of Mines
in Houghton, Michigan
.
He mined in Mexico
for fifteen months before moving to Winnipeg
where he was Business Manager for the Winnipeg Telegram (which had been founded by his brother William Sanford Evans
, who would go on to become mayor of Winnipeg and leader of the Conservative Party of Manitoba
) from 1900 until 1904. After leaving the telegram, he worked for the Manitoba Land & Investment Company for two years.
Evans moved to Alberta in 1906 to prospect coal seams on the Pembina River
. He moved to Edmonton the following year and managed the Pembina Coal Co. until 1908. He was the Canadian manager of a London, England financial house until it went bankrupt in 1912, when he founded the H. M. E. Evans Company, Ltd., which dealt in bonds, insurance, and real estate. In 1910, he married Edith Isabel Gifford Jackson, with whom he would have one son and four daughters.
He was elected mayor in the 1917 municipal election
, finishing first in a five candidate field. He did not seek re-election at the expiration of his one year term. Immediately before his term as mayor, he was president of the Edmonton Board of Trade.
In 1925, he was appointed chairman of the Alberta Coal Commission. He served as a financial advisor to the Government of Alberta from 1931 until 1937. He was admitted to the Order of the British Empire
on July 2, 1946 for meritorious service in war work.
Evans was involved with the Edmonton Rotary Club, the Manitoba Club
, the Edmonton Board of Public Welfare, the Anglican Church, and the Conservative Party
.
Harry Marshall Erskine Evans died in Edmonton September 20, 1973. Evansburg, Alberta
(which he founded) and Evansdale (an Edmonton neighbourhood) are named in his honour.
Notably, Evans's brother William Sanford Evans served as mayor of Winnipeg and leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party, and his nephew Gurney Evans was Minister of Finance amongst other porfolios in Manitoba. Evans's daughter Sylvia Evans was amongst the few women who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and a mayor of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
Biography
Harry Evans was born August 17, 1876 in Davenport, OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(which is now part of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
) to the Rev. and Mrs. J.S. Evans. He was educated in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
before earning a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1897. After graduating, he attended the Michigan School of Mines
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake...
in Houghton, Michigan
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
.
He mined in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
for fifteen months before moving to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
where he was Business Manager for the Winnipeg Telegram (which had been founded by his brother William Sanford Evans
William Sanford Evans
William Sanford Evans was a Manitoba politician. Between 1933 and 1936, he was the leader of that province's Conservative Party caucus....
, who would go on to become mayor of Winnipeg and leader of the Conservative Party of Manitoba
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
) from 1900 until 1904. After leaving the telegram, he worked for the Manitoba Land & Investment Company for two years.
Evans moved to Alberta in 1906 to prospect coal seams on the Pembina River
Pembina River
Pembina River can refer to:*Pembina River , a river in southern Manitoba, Canada and northern North Dakota, United States*Pembina River , a river in central Alberta, Canada...
. He moved to Edmonton the following year and managed the Pembina Coal Co. until 1908. He was the Canadian manager of a London, England financial house until it went bankrupt in 1912, when he founded the H. M. E. Evans Company, Ltd., which dealt in bonds, insurance, and real estate. In 1910, he married Edith Isabel Gifford Jackson, with whom he would have one son and four daughters.
He was elected mayor in the 1917 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1917
The 1917 municipal election was held December 10, 1917, to elect a mayor and seven aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
, finishing first in a five candidate field. He did not seek re-election at the expiration of his one year term. Immediately before his term as mayor, he was president of the Edmonton Board of Trade.
In 1925, he was appointed chairman of the Alberta Coal Commission. He served as a financial advisor to the Government of Alberta from 1931 until 1937. He was admitted to the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
on July 2, 1946 for meritorious service in war work.
Evans was involved with the Edmonton Rotary Club, the Manitoba Club
Manitoba Club
Established in 1874, the Manitoba Club is the oldest private club in western Canada. The Manitoba Club was originally established as a gentleman's club in 1874....
, the Edmonton Board of Public Welfare, the Anglican Church, and the Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
.
Harry Marshall Erskine Evans died in Edmonton September 20, 1973. Evansburg, Alberta
Evansburg, Alberta
Evansburg is a hamlet in west-central Alberta, Canada, within Yellowhead County. It is located on Highway 16A, approximately west of Edmonton and east of Edson. The hamlet is adjacent to the Pembina River and the Pembina River Provincial Park....
(which he founded) and Evansdale (an Edmonton neighbourhood) are named in his honour.
Notably, Evans's brother William Sanford Evans served as mayor of Winnipeg and leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party, and his nephew Gurney Evans was Minister of Finance amongst other porfolios in Manitoba. Evans's daughter Sylvia Evans was amongst the few women who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.