|
Calgary numbers among her
pioneer citizens W. H. R. Gardiner. For sixteen years he has been
superintendent of public works of this city and he has assisted
materially in the growth and improvement of Calgary. He was born in
Doncaster, England, oil 4th of August, 1880, a son of William and Jennie
(Rowbotham) Gardiner, the former a native of Scotland and the latter
born iii England. They came to Canada in the fall of 1888 and located at
Macleod, Alberta. They are now living in Vancouver and are highly
respected and esteemed citizens of the community in which they reside.
The public schools of
Macleod, Alberta, afforded W. H. R. Gardiner his early education, and
after putting his textbooks aside he engaged in cow-punching for a
number of years, being active in that capacity with the late Sheriff
Campbell, and he also worked under him in his office for five years.
Subsequently lie came to Calgary and in 1906 he began to work for the
city, starting in a minor capacity as rodman and helper in the city
hail. At an early age Mr. Gardiner determined to make his mark in the
world and he applied himself diligently to every task assigned him, with
the result that he won constant and well deserved promotion. For a time
he was foreman of the public works, under S. J. Clarke, and subsequently
he was made Superintendent of public works under construction. At the
present time he controls three branches of the public works, namely:
general, street cleaning, and garbage collection. He has held this
office for sixteen years, longer than any other man in the service of
the city. Mr. Gardiner devotes his entire time and attention to the
office and this close application to business and excellent management
have won for him the confidence and esteem of all who know him, lie is
watchful of every detail of his office and the prosperity of Calgary is
certainly due in a large measure to one of its most popular and
efficient public officials— the gentleman whose name initiates this
review.
In Calgary, Alberta, on
the 9th of August, 1905, Mr. Gardiner was married to Miss Clara Adcock,
who was a nurse, and a daughter of Richard and Mary (Orton) Adcock,
natives of England. Her parents made the trip to Canada in a sailing
vessel at an early day and located in London, Ontario, where they
resided until death, being prominent members of that community. The
father's demise occurred in 1910, and his widow died three years later.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have five children: Minnie Beatrice, Mary Orton,
Henry Mortimer, William Hugh Richard, and Gwendolyn. Mrs. Gardiner is a
woman of culture and refinement and she takes a great interest in her
family and home and the culture of flowers and plants.
The religious faith of
Mr. Gardiner is that of the Anglican church. Fraternally he is
identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to all
branches. He finds his greatest recreation in curling and he is past
president of the Calgary Curling Association and the only honorary
president of the branch. He is a man of pleasing personality and has the
genius for making and keeping friends. He holds membership in the
Southern Alberta Old Timers Association, which requires a residence of
thirty years in the province before membership is possible. When Mr.
Gardiner took up residence in Calgary the city was in its infancy and he
has witnessed the remarkable changes that have been wrought, in which he
has played a prominent part. |
