|
Ranking high in the
educational circles of the province of Alberta is William E. Hay,
superintendent of the city schools of Medicine Hat. He has devoted his
life to the profession and his progress has been continuous, his
developing powers enabling him to solve more and more accurately the
problems that continually confront the teacher. Mr. Hay is of Scotch
descent, although born in Ontario, his birth having occurred in Listowel,
on the 27th of August, 1880. His grandfather, William Hay, was born in
Scotland, and crossing the Atlantic, he became a pioneer settler of
Fergus, Ontario, where, in the midst of the forest, he cleared a tract
of land and developed a farm, bringing his field under a high state of
cultivation and improvement. His son, Andrew Hay, was born at Fergus,
Ontario, and became a contractor and builder, in 1910 he removed to
Calgary, where he is still at the head of a large and substantial
business, although seventy-five years of age, for he is a man of great
physical strength and endurance. His religious faith in that of the
Presbyterian church and fraternally he is connected with the Canadian
Order of Foresters. In politics he is a Liberal and keeps well informed
on the vital questions and issues of the clay, being also a well
informed man on many general topics outside of politics. He wedded Mary
McMillan, also a native of Ontario, in which province their marriage was
celebrated. She is a daughter of Walter McMillan, who was a native of
Scotland and was a sailor in early life, becoming first mate on vessels
that sailed the Great Lakes. He also farmed for a time in Ontario. To
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hay one child was born, William E. Hay of this
review.
In the public schools of
his native province William E. Hay pursued his education until graduated
from the high school at Listowel, with the class of 1899. He obtained
his first professional certificate at Elora, Ontario, and he also
attended the Normal School at London, Ontario, in 1903. At intervals
before completing his education he taught school, being a teacher at
Maplewood, Ontario, from 1900 until 1903. After completing his Normal
School training he came to Alberta, settling at Strathcona, where he
received an appointment under D. S. McKenzie. He taught at Strathcona
until 1906, and then went to Medicine Hat and was principal of the
Montreal Street school until September, 1908, when he became principal
of the Practice school of the new Normal School opened in Calgary, being
the first to fill the position of principal there. He remained there
until 1911, and then accepted the position of principal of the high
school and supervisor of schools at Medicine Hat. A little later he was
advanced to the position of superintendent of schools in this city. lie
was made the first school superintendent here and under his
administration the educational system of the city has been steadily
developed. There is now a staff of seventy-five teachers, with
twenty-six hundred pupils, who are housed in eight substantial school
buildings. Under his guidance, too, the methods of instruction have been
advanced and improved and the school system of the city is one of which
his fellow townsmen have every reason to be Proud. He holds to high
ideals in all of his work and throughout his life has embraced every
opportunity for personal advancement in his chosen calling. He has taken
two degrees from Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, that of
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Pedagogy, and he is now filling the
position of member of the board of governors of the University of
Alberta. His ideals are high and he constantly endeavors to reach their
level.
In 1908 Mr. Hay was
united in marriage to Miss Mary Rae, who was born in Boissevain,
Manitoba, a daughter of James Rae, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr.
and Mrs. Hay have become the parents of four children: Robert, Gordon,
Stewart and Cameron, aged, respectively, twelve, ten, eight and seven
years. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian
church, in which both parents are active. Mr. Hay is a member of the
session or elders of the church and is acting clerk of the session. He
has also been superintendent of the Sunday school since 1913 and every
branch of church work finds in him a generous and loyal supporter. He is
likewise a member of the Rotary Club and cooperates in all plans and
measures of that organization for the benefit and upbuilding of the
city, the extension of its trade relations and the adoption of high
standards of civic service. He is a Liberal in politics but is not an
aspirant for office, preferring to concentrate his entire time and
attention upon his professional interests and duties. |
