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William Mather, proprietor
of the Bow River Boat House & Skating Rink of Banff, is one of its
substantial citizens. He was born in Eaglesham, Scotland, in October,
1867, a son of John and Janet (Picken) Mather, natives of Scotland. In
1880 the Mather family came to Canada and located in Ontario, and the
father has since engaged in farming in that province. He is now
eighty-six years of age and is enjoying the best of health. Mrs. Mather
died in March, 1920.
In the acquirement of his
education William Mather attended the public schools of his native land
and was thirteen years of age when his parents came to this country. For
the first two or three years he worked in the lumber camps and in 1887
went to Calgary, where he continued in the lumber business for four
years. In 1891 Mr. Mather came to Banff and for three or four years
worked for the owner of the business of which he is now the proprietor,
eventually purchasing the enterprise. This is his twenty-seventh year as
proprietor of the boathouse, which is the best and largest in the
Northwest country. His boathouse equipment includes launches, motor
boats, row boats and canoes.
In July. 1896, was
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mather to Miss Margaret Curren and they
have the following children: Jennie, born on the 4th of May, 1897;
Leslie, born in June, 1898; Allan, born in November, 1899; and Hazel,
whose birth occurred in March, 1908.
In his political views
Mr. Mather is a Conservative. For fifteen years he has been secretary
and treasurer of the school district and he is an active member of the
Citizens Council. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian
church. For recreation he turns to boating and curling and he has been a
member of the Banff Curling Club for twenty years. |
