William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon
Encyclopedia
William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon, OC
, PC
(June 3, 1877 – January 11, 1969) was a Canadian
politician and judge in the Province of Saskatchewan. He also served as a diplomat for the Government of Canada
.
, New Brunswick
, the son of prominent Canadian politician Onésiphore Turgeon
. His brother, James Gray Turgeon
, was also a politician in Alberta
. The three family members held public office concurrently between the years 1911 and 1921.
Turgeon received his early education in New York, and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Université Laval
in 1900. He was called to the New Brunswick Bar in 1902. He moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
, the judicial centre for the North-West Territories, where he started a law practice and became a Crown prosecutor.
for the ridings of Prince Albert City (1907-1908), Duck Lake (1908-1912), and Humboldt
(1912-1921). From 1912 to 1918, he was the Provincial Secretary. From 1907 to 1921, he was the Attorney General. He is credited with having created the foundations of administrative and municipal legislation in the province.
.
, Chile
, Mexico
, Belgium
, Luxembourg
, Ireland
, and Portugal
.
After returning to Canada, he undertook a one-man inquiry into the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
in 1958.
. In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
"for over a half century of service to his country". The W.F.A. Turgeon Catholic Community School in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan is named in his honour.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, PC
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(June 3, 1877 – January 11, 1969) was a Canadian
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...
politician and judge in the Province of Saskatchewan. He also served as a diplomat for the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
.
Early Life
Turgeon was born in Petit-RocherPetit-Rocher, New Brunswick
Petit-Rocher is a Canadian village in Gloucester County, New Brunswick. Located on Chaleur Bay 20 km northwest of Bathurst, Petit-Rocher's residents are 92% Francophone Acadian...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, the son of prominent Canadian politician Onésiphore Turgeon
Onésiphore Turgeon
Onésiphore Turgeon was a Canadian parliamentarian.Born in Lévis, Canada East, the son of Simon Turgeon and Pélagie Paradis, he was educated at the Séminaire of Quebec and the Université Laval. Turgeon was a journalist in Bathurst, New Brunswick and was editor for Le Courrier des Provinces Maritimes...
. His brother, James Gray Turgeon
James Gray Turgeon
James Gray Turgeon was a broker, soldier and a provincial and federal level politician from Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1921 sitting with the Alberta Liberal caucus in government. During that time he also served in World War I.Turgeon had a...
, was also a politician in Alberta
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...
. The three family members held public office concurrently between the years 1911 and 1921.
Turgeon received his early education in New York, and was awarded 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...
degree from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
in 1900. He was called to the New Brunswick Bar in 1902. He moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
, the judicial centre for the North-West Territories, where he started a law practice and became a Crown prosecutor.
Politician
He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of SaskatchewanLegislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
for the ridings of Prince Albert City (1907-1908), Duck Lake (1908-1912), and Humboldt
Humboldt (provincial electoral district)
Humboldt is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. Located in central Saskatchewan, this constituency was one of 25 created for the 1st Saskatchewan general election in 1905....
(1912-1921). From 1912 to 1918, he was the Provincial Secretary. From 1907 to 1921, he was the Attorney General. He is credited with having created the foundations of administrative and municipal legislation in the province.
Justice of the Court of Appeal
From 1921 to 1938, he was a Justice of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal and from 1938 to 1941 he was the Chief Justice of Saskatchewan. In 1941, he was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for CanadaQueen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
.
Diplomat
From 1941 to 1957, he held diplomatic posts mostly as the Canadian ambassador to ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, 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...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
After returning to Canada, he undertook a one-man inquiry into the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba is an agency of the Government of Manitoba. It was established in 1917 in accordance to the The Workers Compensation Act, itself passed in 1916...
in 1958.
Honours
In 1940, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"for over a half century of service to his country". The W.F.A. Turgeon Catholic Community School in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan is named in his honour.