Selwyn G. Blaylock
Encyclopedia
Selwyn Gwillym Blaylock was a part of starting the mining industry in western Canada. He was president of Cominco
, recipient of several international awards for his work in metallurgy, and was the President of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum in 1934–35. For his work he was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
.
. Blaylock attended Bishop's College School
in Lennoxville, Quebec
. In 1899, he obtained a B.Sc. from McGill University
.
. Two years later, he became the company's chief chemist, but soon moved to Nelson, British Columbia
to become general supintendent of the Hall Mines Smelter, then general superintendent of the St. Eugene mines. In 1908, Blaylock joined the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (Cominco). In 1919, he became Cominco's general manager. In 1922 a director, vice-president in 1927, managing director in 1938 and president in 1939.
Blaylock died in Trail, six months after his retirement. He was buried at Danville, Quebec
.
Teck Cominco
Teck Resources Limited known as Teck Cominco until late 2008, is a Canadian mining company. It was formed from the amalgamation of Teck and Cominco in 2001.-History:...
, recipient of several international awards for his work in metallurgy, and was the President of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum in 1934–35. For his work he was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame aims to recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the mining industry.It was conceived by Maurice R. Brown as a way to recognize and honor the legendary mine finders and builders of this Canadian industry. The Hall was established in 1988...
.
Early life
He was born in Paspébiac, QuebecPaspébiac, Quebec
Paspébiac is a town on Baie des Chaleurs in the Gaspésie region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of 2006, the population was 3,159. The town is noted for the Banc de Paspébiac, a large sandbar jutting out into the bay...
. Blaylock attended Bishop's College School
Bishop's College School
This article is about the school in Canada. Alternatively, visit Diocesan College in Cape Town, South Africa.Bishop's College School is a private school in Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada....
in Lennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville, Quebec
Lennoxville is an arrondissement, or borough, of the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Lennoxville is located at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi Rivers approximately five kilometers south of downtown Sherbrooke....
. In 1899, he obtained a B.Sc. from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
.
Career
After graduating, he moved west and obtained work as a surveyor for the Canadian Smelting Works in Trail, British ColumbiaTrail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
. Two years later, he became the company's chief chemist, but soon moved to Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
to become general supintendent of the Hall Mines Smelter, then general superintendent of the St. Eugene mines. In 1908, Blaylock joined the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (Cominco). In 1919, he became Cominco's general manager. In 1922 a director, vice-president in 1927, managing director in 1938 and president in 1939.
Blaylock died in Trail, six months after his retirement. He was buried at Danville, Quebec
Danville, Quebec
Danville is a town in the administrative region of Estrie, in the Canadian province of Quebec. As of the 2006 Canadian Census, the population was 4,041....
.
Honours
- inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of FameCanadian Mining Hall of FameThe Canadian Mining Hall of Fame aims to recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the mining industry.It was conceived by Maurice R. Brown as a way to recognize and honor the legendary mine finders and builders of this Canadian industry. The Hall was established in 1988...
- awarded the McCharles Prize from the University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe 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...
for outstanding work in Canadian Metallurgy - 1928, awarded the James Douglas Medal for Metallurgy by the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
- 1930, presented with an honorary degree by the University of AlbertaUniversity of AlbertaThe University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
- 1935, awarded the Inco Medal by The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for outstanding work in mining and smelting
- 1944, made an honorary member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum EngineersAmerican Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum EngineersThe American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers is a professional body for mining and metallurgy, with 90,000 members. It was founded in 1871 by 22 mining engineers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States, being one of the first national engineering societies in the...
- 1944, Gold Medal of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy of Great Britain
- 1948, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and PetroleumCanadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and PetroleumThe Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is a technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries. It was founded in 1898. In 2006, the organization had 12,000 national members...
established the Selwyn G. Blaylock MedalSelwyn G. Blaylock MedalThe Selwyn G. Blaylock Medal was established in 1948 and is awarded annually by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum to an individual that has demonstrated distinguished service to Canada through exceptional achievement in the field of mining, metallurgy, or geology.The medal...
. It is presented annually to an individual that has demonstrated distinguished service to Canada through exceptional achievement in the field of mining, metallurgy, or geology - 1961, Blaylock Creek was named in his honour