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Donald Mackie, deputy
registrar general in the vital statistics department of the government
since 1913 and an honored resident of Edmonton, was born in Glasgow,
Scotland, in 1880, a son of John and Mary (McMillan) Mackie, who were
also natives of that country. The father still makes his home in
Scotland and is connected with the internal revenue department there,
having for some time held a position in connection therewith. He is a
well educated and well read man who has exerted considerable influence
over public thought and action in his community. In politics he has long
been a Liberal and at one time was secretary of the Liberal Association.
He belongs to the Presbyterian church and in that faith his wife passed
away. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Donald is the
eldest and the only one residing in Canada. His brother Robert, who was
a major in the World war and served throughout the period of the
conflict, was at one time in Liberia but is now assistant comptroller of
Sierra Leone in West Africa, a position of large responsibility and
importance. The youngest son of the family, Archie Mackie, is a
contractor of Los Angeles, California, to which city he made his way
when eighteen years of age. There he became identified with building
operations and through the intervening period has worked his way
steadily upward, being now a prominent contractor of that city and one
whose labors have been crowned with substantial success.
Donald Mackie pursued his
early education in the Irvine Academy and in the Hull grammar school of
England, also attending London University, from which he was graduated
in 1903. In his college days he specialized in the study of entomology.
During his early manhood he became identified with a merchant handling
all lines of goods pertaining to the eye, and of this Mr. Mackie made a
study, spending ten years in that connection. He came to Canada and
entered the employ of the Davidson Manufacturing Company, engaged in the
manufacture of stoves, ranges and similar products. in 1912 he removed
to Edmonton as representative of the Davidson interests, but later
turned his attention to the real estate business, which he entered in
connection with P. Lessard. After a short time spent as a realtor of
Edmonton he was appointed deputy registrar general in the vital
statistics department in 1913 and has occupied that position since. He
has a staff of fifteen employes in his office and is in charge of the
entire province, there being seven hundred people connected with the
department in Alberta. He is thoroughly systematic in all that he does
and, moreover, is a man of broad vision and keen discernment, who
readily recognizes the need and opportunities for public service of this
character. This has rendered his work of the greatest possible value and
he is now devoting his entire attention to the duties that devolve upon
him in this connection.
In April, 1911, Mr.
Mackie was married to Miss Christina Donnald, a native of Scotland, and
they have become parents of two children: Helen, eight years of age, now
in school; and Jean, a little maiden of five summers. Mr. Mackie has
membership with the United Commercial Travelers. In politics he is a
Liberal and in religious faith both he and his wife are Presbyterians.
They occupy an enviable social position, having many warm friends in
Edmonton, and their interest has ever centered in those channels through
which flows the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number.
Mr. Mackie has never had occasion to regret his determination to leave
his native country and establish his home in the Dominion, for here he
has found opportunity for advancement and his entire course has been
marked by a steady progress that has brought him to a prominent place in
connection with public affairs and in the regard of his fellowmen. |
