Rolf Wallgren Bruhn
Encyclopedia
Rolf Wallgren Bruhn was a Swedish
-born farmer, lumberman and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented Salmon Arm
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1924 to 1942 as a Conservative
.
He was born Rolf Wallgren in Resterod parish, the son of Axel Wallgren. His father, a Crown Reeve in Sweden, was accused of embezzlement in 1890 and subsequently adopted the surname Bruhn and went to Canada, leaving his family behind. The family moved to Göteborg, where his mother operated a bakery. In 1894, Rolf left school and worked as a deckhand on freighters. He won a sailboat in a raffle in 1895; he gave most of the money to his mother and bought a ticket to Canada.
There, like his father, he adopted the surname Bruhn. Bruhn worked as a sailor on the Great Lakes
; moving west, he worked on the railway and as a miner and logger. In 1898, he settled in Malakwa, British Columbia
. Bruhn married Anna Treat in 1902. Bruhn supplemented his income from farming with road contract work. In 1910, he moved with his family to Salmon Arm
, working as a road foreman and then road superintendent. He also served four years as an alderman.
Bruhn lost his position of road superintendent after the Liberal
s were elected in 1916. He moved to Sicamous
, where he established a business producing cedar poles. Bruhn was badly burned in a fire and, for a time, his wife managed the company. The company expanded, building a lumber mill at Canoe
and addling logs and railway ties to its products.
He was named to the Conservative cabinet as President of the Executive Council in 1928 and as Minister of Public Works in 1930. Bruhn helped draft the platform for the Social Constructive Party
in 1937 and, although he ran as an Independent candidate in the 1937 general election
, he was endorsed by the Constructives. The Social Constructive Party was not successful and Bruhn ran again as a Conservative in 1941. Later that year, he was again Minister of Public Works in a Liberal/Conservative coalition government. Bruhn suffered a stroke and died in office the following year.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
-born farmer, lumberman and political figure in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He represented Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm (electoral district)
Salmon Arm was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia including on the town of Salmon Arm on Shuswap Lake. The riding first appeared in the 1924 election...
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 1924 to 1942 as a Conservative
British Columbia Conservative Party
The British Columbia Conservative Party is a political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected as the government in 1903, the party went into decline after 1933...
.
He was born Rolf Wallgren in Resterod parish, the son of Axel Wallgren. His father, a Crown Reeve in Sweden, was accused of embezzlement in 1890 and subsequently adopted the surname Bruhn and went to Canada, leaving his family behind. The family moved to Göteborg, where his mother operated a bakery. In 1894, Rolf left school and worked as a deckhand on freighters. He won a sailboat in a raffle in 1895; he gave most of the money to his mother and bought a ticket to Canada.
There, like his father, he adopted the surname Bruhn. Bruhn worked as a sailor on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
; moving west, he worked on the railway and as a miner and logger. In 1898, he settled in Malakwa, British Columbia
Malakwa, British Columbia
Malakwa is a settlement in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, in the Eagle River valley, along the Trans-Canada Highway between Sicamous and Revelstoke. It had a population of 649 people in 2001....
. Bruhn married Anna Treat in 1902. Bruhn supplemented his income from farming with road contract work. In 1910, he moved with his family to Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
-Climate:- Education :Public schools in Salmon Arm are part of School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap; within the city limits, there are currently five elementary schools , one middle school , and a secondary school with two campuses...
, working as a road foreman and then road superintendent. He also served four years as an alderman.
Bruhn lost his position of road superintendent after the Liberal
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
s were elected in 1916. He moved to Sicamous
Sicamous, British Columbia
Sicamous, British Columbia is a town in British Columbia located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 97A junction of Mara Lake and the Shuswap Lake system. It is known as a popular all season tourist destination attracting visitors from throughout Canada and around the world...
, where he established a business producing cedar poles. Bruhn was badly burned in a fire and, for a time, his wife managed the company. The company expanded, building a lumber mill at Canoe
Canoe, British Columbia
Canoe, British Columbia, is a small semi-rural community within the larger City of Salmon Arm just off the Trans Canada Highway. The community lies on the south side of Shuswap Lake, east of the city centre...
and addling logs and railway ties to its products.
He was named to the Conservative cabinet as President of the Executive Council in 1928 and as Minister of Public Works in 1930. Bruhn helped draft the platform for the Social Constructive Party
British Columbia Social Constructive Party
The British Columbia Social Constructive Party was formed in 1936 by a breakaway from the British Columbia Co-operative Commonwealth Federation after Reverend Robert Connell was expelled from the party over doctrinal differences. Connell had been leader of the CCF until his expulsion...
in 1937 and, although he ran as an Independent candidate in the 1937 general election
British Columbia general election, 1937
The British Columbia general election of 1937 was the nineteenth general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 14, 1937, and held on June 1, 1937...
, he was endorsed by the Constructives. The Social Constructive Party was not successful and Bruhn ran again as a Conservative in 1941. Later that year, he was again Minister of Public Works in a Liberal/Conservative coalition government. Bruhn suffered a stroke and died in office the following year.