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A representative citizen of
Strathmore is John Mackenzie, who is editor and proprietor of the
Strathmore Bow Valley Standard, He was born in Rothesay, Scotland, on
the 1st of February, 1887, a son of Murdoch and Mary Mackenzie, also
natives of Scotland. The father is a newspaper man, spending the greater
part of his life in that work, and now owns and edits a newspaper at
Rothesay. To Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie five children were born: John, whose
name introduces this review; Murdoch, who served in the intelligence
department during the World war and died in 1918; Donald A., who served
with the British Balkan Expeditionary Forces for two years and met his
death on active service; and Marian and Jessie, who are living at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie were consistent communicants of the Presbyterian
church and generous contributors to its support.
In the acquirement of his
education John Mackenzie attended the Rothesay Academy and after leaving
school he worked in his father's newspaper office. He learned the
business from the ground up and in 1909 came to Canada and located in
Calgary, accepting a position on the staff of the Albertan. He reported
on that paper for three months, at the termination of which time he came
to Strathmore and assisted in the establishment of the Strathmore Bow
Valley Standard, which he managed for one year. He then bought out the
others interested in the sheet and has since been sole publisher. He has
installed modern machinery, intertype, cylinder press, etc. Aside from
the publication of the paper Mr. Mackenzie does much commercial
printing, and he devotes his entire time and attention to the paper and
wields a great influence for good in this community. The value of the
local newspaper in the upbuilding of the best interests of any community
is universally conceded. The rule is that good papers are found in good
towns, inferior journals in towns of stunted growth and uncertain
future. It is not so much a matter of size as of excellence and
adaptability to the needs of its locality. These conditions given, in an
appreciative and progressive community, the size of the paper will take
care of itself in a way mutually satisfactory to publishers and patrons.
The Strathmore Bow Valley Standard, being located in a progressive
community, enjoys a large and ever-increasing circulation and Mr.
Mackenzie well merits the confidence and esteem in which he is held by
his fellow citizens.
Mr. Mackenzie is a
veteran of the 'World war, having enlisted in the Eighty-ninth Battalion
in 1915, and received his training at Red Deer. In May, 1916, he went
overseas to England, and was sent to France in November of that year as
a member of the Tenth Battalion, He was severely wounded at Vimy Ridge
on the 9th of April, 1917, receiving a bullet wound in the leg, and head
injuries. He was invalided to England, where he remained in a hospital
for some time. In January, 1919, he returned to Alberta and received his
honorable discharge, with the rank of lieutenant.
In 1912 was celebrated
the marriage of Mr. Mackenzie to Miss Helen McKinnon Donaldson, a native
of Scotland. To their union one child has been born Mary Helen, who is
living at home. Mrs. Mackenzie is a woman of culture and refinement and
she is prominent in the club and social circles of Strathmore.
The family are consistent
members of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Mackenzie is
identified with the Masons and he is a past master of Lodge No. 53, at
Strathmore. He is a member of the local school board and a stanch
advocate of education. Along newspaper lines he is identified with the
Alberta Press Association, of which he is president and he was the first
president of Strathmore G. W. V. A. Mr. Mackenzie is justly accorded a
place among the prominent and representative citizens of Strathmore, for
he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not
alone for their own benefit—he also advances the general good and
promotes public prosperity by his ably managed individual interests. |
