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James W. Spalding,
inspector for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with offices at
Calgary, has been in the service of this organization for twenty-two
years and through the steps of an orderly progression has risen to the
office of responsibility which he now holds. He was born at Perth,
Ontario, February 27, 1878, a son of Francis and Margaret (Wier)
Spalding, also natives of that province, in which the father spent his
life, his attention being given to agricultural pursuits. He passed away
in August, 1906. The mother is now living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, having
reached the venerable age of eighty-seven years. The paternal and
maternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were natives of
Scotland and Mr. Spalding, the father of Francis Spalding, held a
commission in the British army. He received from the government a grant
of land near Perth, Ontario, as a recompense for his services.
Reared in his native
province, ,James W. Spalding there attended the country schools and
afterward learned the trades of a carpenter and millwright, which he
followed for about two years, working in a sawmill for half of that
period. In 1899, at the time of the gold excitement in the Yukon
Territory, he came vest, with Peace River, Alberta, as his destination,
but stopped off at Athabaska Landing and built two boats for a company
of men from Chicago who were en route to the gold fields. It was there
that Mr. Spalding first came into contact with the Mounted Police and
soon afterward he returned to the east. In the spring of 1900 he went to
Ottawa, Quebec, where he enlisted in the Mounted Police, and was sent to
Regina, Saskatchewan, for training, remaining there for six weeks. Later
he was transferred to Moosornin, Saskatchewan, and has since been
stationed in various places. He went through the ranks of
noncommissioned officers and became a corporal in 1903. In the following
year he was made sergeant and in 1907 was advanced to sergeant major,
acting in that capacity at Lethbridge for a time and for four years at
Calgary. In the fall of 1910 lie left for Prince Albert, where he
remained for a brief period, and was commissioned inspector at
Battleford, Saskatchewan, in 1912. He was then sent to Regina, where he
spent two and a half years, and in the fall of 1914 was ordered to l\ioose
Jaw, Saskatchewan. In the fall of 1918 he came to Calgary to take
command of E Division, which was later transferred to Vancouver, British
Columbia, and Mr. Spalding has since been inspector for this district,
with headquarters in this city. Broad experience has given him a
detailed knowledge of the duties devolving upon him and he fully meets
the requirements of the position, being regarded as one of the most
efficient and trusted representatives of this fine organization. In
1917, when the police were being- mobilized for overseas service, he
tendered his aid to the government, but owing to the effects of an
operation of a serious nature, performed in 1913, was unable to pass the
physical examination, much to his regret.
On the 8th of August,
1908, Mr. Spalding married Miss Maude Marie Spurr, a daughter of William
and Mary Spurr, the latter a native of Ontario and of Irish descent. The
father was born in the province of Nova Scotia and for many years was
numbered among the prominent oil operators of I'etrolia, Ontario. His
demise occurred in 1918. Mrs. Spurr still makes her home in Petrolia.
Mr. and Mrs. Spalding have become the parents of a son, Frank Spurr, now
twelve years of age.
Mr. Spalding is a member
of the Knox Presbyterian church of Calgary and is serving on its board
of managers. He is independent in his political views, supporting all
measures calculated to advance the interests of good government and
promote national stability. He is a member of the Canadian Order of
Foresters, the Calgary Golf and Country Club and the Canadian Club and
was formerly a Rotarian. He is deserving of great credit for what he has
accomplished, for he has worked his way steadily upward through the
medium of his own efforts, placing his dependence upon the substantial
qualities of industry, perseverance and honesty. High and honorable
principles have guided him in all of life's relations and the respect
which is accorded him is well deserved. |
