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A veteran of the Great war
and a representative physician and surgeon of the province of Alberta is
Dr. William J. MacKenzie of Red Deer. He was born in Warwick, Ontario,
on the 1st of June, 1886, a son of Robert and Sarah (Thomas) MacKenzie,
the former a native of the highlands of Scotland, and the latter of
Canada, of Welsh parentage. The marriage of Robert MacKenzie to Sarah
Thomas was celebrated in Ontario, where they are residing at the present
time. For many years the father followed contracting and he is now
retired from active business life, enjoying well- merited rest. To Mr.
and Mrs. MacKenzie five children were born, two of whom are living in
Alberta: William J. of this review; and Norman, who is conducting a drug
store at Medicine Hat. Mr. and Mrs. MacKenzie are consistent members of
the Presbyterian church and highly esteemed citizens of the community in
which they reside. The father is a stanch supporter of the Liberal
party.
In the acquirement of his
education William J. MacKenzie attended the public schools of his
birthplace and was graduated from high school at Watford. Subsequently
he enrolled in the medical department of the University of Toronto, and
was graduated from that institution in 1911, with the M. D. degree. He
immediately came to Red Deer and started to practice in association with
Dr. Parsons, extended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work.
That association has since been maintained, except for the time spent by
both doctors in serving their country overseas in the Great war. In
August, 1915, Dr. MacKenzie entered the Medical Corps of the Canadian
army and was soon sent to London as senior medical officer, lie was in
charge of the medical division in Shoreham, England, and was then in
France with the Eighth Field Ambulance and Forty-third Battalion. He was
with the "Kilties" for three years. In November, 1919, he received his
honorable discharge and returned home after an absence of five years. He
resumed his practice and devotes his entire time and attention to his
professional duties. Dr. MacKenzie has taken postgraduate work in New
York and London. Although his practice is for the most part general, he
leans toward surgery, and a successful future in that branch of the
profession seems assured him.
In June, 1921, Dr.
MacKenzie was married to Miss Estell Foy, a native of Toronto, where she
was reared to young womanhood. In politics Dr. MacKenzie follows an
independent course. his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian
church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to
the lodge and the chapter. |
