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No history of Calgary would
be complete without mention of Colonel George Macdonald, who is medical
advisor for the Department of Soldiers' Civil Reestablishment. He was
born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on the 22d of September, 1863, a son of
George Wood and Clementine Cheyne (Chalmers) Macdonald, likewise natives
of Scotland, both of whom came to Canada when young people. On the
maternal side Colonel Macdonald is related to Lord Robert Chalmers of
England. The father was in the employ of the Great Eastern Railroad in
his native land for some time and after coming to this country was
employed as bookkeeper by Lorne McDougal at Renfrew. He was holding the
position of general auditor at the time of his death and had also been
paymaster on the west extension of the Canada Extension. Throughout his
life the father was a stanch supporter of the Liberal party and he
maintained an active interest in party affairs. Fraternally he was
identified with the Masons and he was a member of the Free Church of
Scotland. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald ten children were born,
five of whom are living, Colonel George, whose name introduces this
review, being the oldest member of the family.
In the pursuit of his
education George Macdonald attended the publie schools of the old
country, was for some time a student in the Montreal schools, after
coming to Canada with his parents, and was graduated from the high
school at Renfrew. In his boyhood he had decided to enter the medical
profession and therefore he enrolled in McGill University, from which
institution he was graduated in 1889. For the following year he
practiced in Renfrew and in 1890 came to Calgary as surgeon for the C. &
E., during the construction of that road. He began private practice in
1895 and built up an extensive and important patronage, continuing to
devote his entire time and attention to his professional duties until
the World war broke out. Being an intense patriot he was quick to put
all personal interests aside, and he raised the Twelfth C. Al. R., the
best cavalry unit that saw active service overseas. He was in command of
the Twelfth with the rank of colonel until that unit was broken up, when
he commanded the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Fort Garry Horse. He
organized Bramshott Camp and later turned it over to Lord Brook,
brigadier general. He was serving in the Second Battalion in 1916, when
he was recalled to take charge of District 13 at Calgary, so serving
from March, 1917, to March, 1919, when he became associated with the
Department of Soldiers' Civil Reestablishment in a professional
capacity. Colonel Macdonald is in every sense of the word the right man
for the place and the manner in which he has cared for his various cases
has won for him the confidence and respect of the entire medical
profession. He is sincerely devoted to this profession, in which he
stands for the highest and best.
On the 5th of December,
1895, was celebrated the marriage of Colonel Macdonald to Miss Mary
Alice Macleod, a native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. To their
union two children have been born: Flora and Norma, both living at home.
In his political views
Colonel Macdonald is a Conservative. For twelve years he held the office
of health officer of Calgary, and was the first medical officer of the
Northwest Territories Militia, of which body he has been a member for
years. On the night of January 8, 1923, his term of service in the
office of president of the Military Institute expired, after a
successful administration. Fraternally the Colonel is identified with
the Masons. He was the first grand master of the Grand Lodge of Alberta
and for ten years held the office of grand secretary. He is a Knight
Templar and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite.
He is past provincial prior in the Great Priory, K. T., and is past
grand superintendent of the Chapter. He is also affiliated with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United
Workmen, having passed through all chairs in both lodges. lie is also a
member of the Canadian Order of Foresters. During the year 1897 the
Colonel's health failed and in August of that year he went to Athabaska
and Dawson, where he spent the winter, he lived out of doors that winter
and returned to Calgary the following year. While there he participated
in many winter sports, for he has always been interested in all forms of
athletics, and took the first lacrosse team to play in Vancouver in
1891. Few men are more active in professional, fraternal and social
circles than Colonel Macdonald, and he is very popular, for he has the
genius for making and keeping friends. |
