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William D. Spence, a member
of one of the pioneer families of eastern Canada, has been chosen to
fill the office of tax commissioner for the province of Alberta and is
thus an important factor in governmental affairs. He was born in Perth,
Ontario, November 16, 1869, and is a son of William Spence, a native of
the Orkney Islands. The father was born in 1839. In 1846, when seven
years of age, he was brought to Canada by his parents, who settled near
Hamilton, in the province of Ontario. In 1859 he removed to Perth
county, Ontario, and there he was married, in 1866, to Miss Martha
Dowzer, a native of County Wicklow, Ireland. They are now residents of
Granton, Ontario, and the father has reached the age of eighty-three
years. The Spence family is all one in Scotland and there is also a
strain of Danish blood in the paternal line.
In the public schools of
Perth county, Ontario, William D. Spence obtained his early education
and following his graduation from St. Mary's high school he became a
student at Toronto University, which he attended until 1893. He then
became principal of St. Mary's high school and filled that position for
fourteen years, being very successful as all in 1907 he came to Alberta,
establishing his home iii Calgary, where he turned his attention to
accounting and auditing, being thus occupied for thirteen years, except
during 1910 and 1911, when he served for one and a half years as city
clerk of Calgary, being appointed by the city council. In May, 1920, Mr.
Spence was appointed by the lieutenant governor in council a member of
the assessment equalization board of Alberta, in which capacity he
served for a year, and he has since been tax commissioner for Alberta,
receiving his appointment from the same source. During the absence of
the department minister of municipal affairs the responsibilities of
that office also devolve upon him. His experience as all has been of
great assistance to him in the discharge of his present duties and the
work of his department is characterized by a high standard of
efficiency.
Mr. Spence was married at
St. Mary's, Ontario, on the 8th of February, 1898, to Miss Mary Victoria
Keen, a daughter of John A. Keen, deceased. Mr. Spence is a Presbyterian
in religious faith and his political support is given to the Liberal
party. He is a member of the Edmonton Club and is prominent in fraternal
circles, having filled all of the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He is a Chapter Mason and is serving as chancellor commander of
Edmonton Lodge No. 13, of the Knights of Pythias. His ideas are
practical and his methods progressive and what he has undertaken he has
accomplished. He discharges his pub- lie duties to the best of his
ability and is loyal to the trust reposed in him. |
