Wells Gray (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Wellesley Gray was a British Columbia
cabinet minister and mayor. He is particularly noted for his work creating some of British Columbia's early provincial parks and Wells Gray Provincial Park
is named for him. His colleagues usually called him by his nickname, "Wells".
Gray was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, in 1876 and was considered the city’s greatest son because few native-born British Columbians before him attained cabinet posts. As a youth, he achieved distinction in lacrosse and was a member of the New Westminster Salmonbelly Club which won the world lacrosse championship in 1900. At age 30, Gray was elected alderman of New Westminster and at age 36 he became mayor, a post he held from 1913 to 1919 and again from 1927 to 1930. In 1927, he was also elected to the British Columbia Legislature in Victoria
and was re-elected at the next four provincial elections with significant majorities which reflected the high esteem in which he was held by the people of New Westminster. In 1933, Premier Duff Pattullo appointed Gray Minister of Lands and in 1941, under the Coalition Government, he was given the additional duties of Minister of Municipal Affairs.
In 1938, with the assistance of British Columbia's Chief Forester, Ernest Manning, Gray began to enact legislation creating provincial parks. Tweedsmuir Park was first, located in the Coast Mountains, and it remained the province's largest park until 1993. Later that year, Hamber Park in the Rocky Mountains was set aside. In 1939, a large park was proposed for the drainage basin of the Clearwater River and, when the Order in Council to establish it was passed, the park was named Wells Gray in honour of the minister. The next park was being planned for the Cascade Range of southern British Columbia and was dedicated as Ernest C. Manning Provincial Park after Manning was killed in a plane crash in 1941. Tourists and hikers of the 21st century owe much to the vision of Gray and Manning.
Gray took a tour of the British Columbia interior region during the summer of 1940 and spent four days in Wells Gray Park. He rode the train to Clearwater
, then was driven to the end of the road at the park boundary where he stayed at the Helset Ranch. He travelled by horse to see Helmcken Falls
, camped at The Horseshoe on the Clearwater River
for two nights, then boated along Mahood Lake
to stay at Mahood Lake Lodge overnight.
Gray died suddenly in Victoria from a heart ailment on May 7, 1944. The Attorney-General, Hon. R.L. Maitland, commented, “No man ever had a greater interest in his own town than he had in New Westminster and everywhere you look in the Royal City you see a monument to something he has accomplished there. A quiet lovable man, he will be greatly missed by the thousands who knew him.”
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
cabinet minister and mayor. He is particularly noted for his work creating some of British Columbia's early provincial parks and Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park is a large wilderness park located in east-central British Columbia, Canada. The park protects most of the southern, and highest, regions of the Cariboo Mountains and covers 5,250 square kilometres...
is named for him. His colleagues usually called him by his nickname, "Wells".
Gray was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, in 1876 and was considered the city’s greatest son because few native-born British Columbians before him attained cabinet posts. As a youth, he achieved distinction in lacrosse and was a member of the New Westminster Salmonbelly Club which won the world lacrosse championship in 1900. At age 30, Gray was elected alderman of New Westminster and at age 36 he became mayor, a post he held from 1913 to 1919 and again from 1927 to 1930. In 1927, he was also elected to the British Columbia Legislature in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
and was re-elected at the next four provincial elections with significant majorities which reflected the high esteem in which he was held by the people of New Westminster. In 1933, Premier Duff Pattullo appointed Gray Minister of Lands and in 1941, under the Coalition Government, he was given the additional duties of Minister of Municipal Affairs.
In 1938, with the assistance of British Columbia's Chief Forester, Ernest Manning, Gray began to enact legislation creating provincial parks. Tweedsmuir Park was first, located in the Coast Mountains, and it remained the province's largest park until 1993. Later that year, Hamber Park in the Rocky Mountains was set aside. In 1939, a large park was proposed for the drainage basin of the Clearwater River and, when the Order in Council to establish it was passed, the park was named Wells Gray in honour of the minister. The next park was being planned for the Cascade Range of southern British Columbia and was dedicated as Ernest C. Manning Provincial Park after Manning was killed in a plane crash in 1941. Tourists and hikers of the 21st century owe much to the vision of Gray and Manning.
Gray took a tour of the British Columbia interior region during the summer of 1940 and spent four days in Wells Gray Park. He rode the train to Clearwater
Clearwater, British Columbia
Clearwater is a district municipality in the North Thompson River valley in British Columbia, Canada, north of Kamloops. The largest community in the valley, with a population of 4,960, Clearwater is predominantly employed by the forestry industry. Tourism is also a major industry, with Wells Gray...
, then was driven to the end of the road at the park boundary where he stayed at the Helset Ranch. He travelled by horse to see Helmcken Falls
Helmcken Falls
Helmcken Falls is a waterfall on the Murtle River within Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. The protection of Helmcken Falls was one of the reasons for the creation of Wells Gray Provincial Park in 1939....
, camped at The Horseshoe on the Clearwater River
Clearwater River (British Columbia)
The Clearwater River is the largest tributary of the North Thompson River, joining it at the community of Clearwater, British Columbia. The Clearwater rises from glaciers in the Cariboo Mountains and flows in a mostly southerly direction for to the North Thompson. Its entire course, except the...
for two nights, then boated along Mahood Lake
Mahood Lake
Mahood Lake is a lake in the South Cariboo region of the Interior of British Columbia in Wells Gray Provincial Park. It is drained by the Mahood River, a tributary of the Clearwater River which has cut a deep canyon into Cambrian rocks and Pleistocene glacial moraines...
to stay at Mahood Lake Lodge overnight.
Gray died suddenly in Victoria from a heart ailment on May 7, 1944. The Attorney-General, Hon. R.L. Maitland, commented, “No man ever had a greater interest in his own town than he had in New Westminster and everywhere you look in the Royal City you see a monument to something he has accomplished there. A quiet lovable man, he will be greatly missed by the thousands who knew him.”