William Sanford Evans
Encyclopedia
William Sanford Evans was a Manitoba
politician. Between 1933 and 1936, he was the leader of that province's Conservative
Party caucus.
Evans was born in Spencerville
, Ontario
, the son of Rev. J.S. Evans. He was educated at the Collegiate Institute
in Hamilton, Ontario
, Victoria University
and Columbia University
. He subsequently moved to Manitoba
.
Evans was active in the publishing industry of his new province, founding the Winnipeg Telegram and writing a book on Canadian Imperialism during the Second Boer War
. In 1920, he co-founded a publishing firm specializing in grain industry news.
Evans ran for the federal Conservatives
in Winnipeg in 1904, but was defeated by Liberal
David Bole. He was elected Mayor
of Winnipeg in 1909, and served in that position until 1911.
Evans was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1922, leading the Conservative party list in Winnipeg (which elected ten MLAs through preferential balloting). He was re-elected in 1927 and 1932, topping the Winnipeg ballot on the latter occasion. When Col. Fawcett G. Taylor
resigned as Conservative leader in 1933, Evans was chosen to lead the party's parliamentary caucus. He did not run against Errick F. Willis at the party's 1936 leadership convention, and did not run in the provincial election which followed.
In 1931, while still serving in the Manitoba legislature, Evans was appointed by British Columbia
Premier
Simon F. Tolmie to head a commission investigating that province's fruit-growing cooperatives. In keeping with Evans's "free-market" ideology, the commission's report recommended a return to open competition, and was opposed by many within the trade.
Evans continued to publish grain industry news following his retirement from parliament. He died in 1949.
Notably, Evans's brother Harry M.E. Evans served as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta. As well, Evans's son Gurney Evans
served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin
and Walter Weir
in Manitoba.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician. Between 1933 and 1936, he was the leader of that province's Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
Party caucus.
Evans was born in Spencerville
Spencerville, Ontario
The village of Spencerville is a rural community located in Eastern Ontario, about 80 kilometres southwest of downtown Ottawa on Highway 416. The village lies within the amalgamated municipality of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.The twinning of former Highway 16...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the son of Rev. J.S. Evans. He was educated at the Collegiate Institute
Collegiate institute
A collegiate institute is a term that can refer to a school either of secondary education or of higher education. It has a complex definition that varies regionally, and has been largely unused outside of Canada since the early 20th century.-Canada:...
in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Victoria University
Victoria University in the University of Toronto
Victoria University is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1836 and named for Queen Victoria. It is commonly called Victoria College, informally Vic, after the original academic component that now forms its undergraduate division...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He subsequently moved to Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Evans was active in the publishing industry of his new province, founding the Winnipeg Telegram and writing a book on Canadian Imperialism during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. In 1920, he co-founded a publishing firm specializing in grain industry news.
Evans ran for the federal Conservatives
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
in Winnipeg in 1904, but was defeated by Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
David Bole. He was elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Winnipeg in 1909, and served in that position until 1911.
Evans was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1922, leading the Conservative party list in Winnipeg (which elected ten MLAs through preferential balloting). He was re-elected in 1927 and 1932, topping the Winnipeg ballot on the latter occasion. When Col. Fawcett G. Taylor
Fawcett G. Taylor
Fawcett Gowler Taylor was a Manitoba politician, and was the leader of that province's Conservative Party from 1922 to 1933....
resigned as Conservative leader in 1933, Evans was chosen to lead the party's parliamentary caucus. He did not run against Errick F. Willis at the party's 1936 leadership convention, and did not run in the provincial election which followed.
In 1931, while still serving in the Manitoba legislature, Evans was appointed by British Columbia
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...
Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Simon F. Tolmie to head a commission investigating that province's fruit-growing cooperatives. In keeping with Evans's "free-market" ideology, the commission's report recommended a return to open competition, and was opposed by many within the trade.
Evans continued to publish grain industry news following his retirement from parliament. He died in 1949.
Notably, Evans's brother Harry M.E. Evans served as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta. As well, Evans's son Gurney Evans
Gurney Evans
Edward Gurney Vaux Evans was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1953 to 1969, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin and Walter Weir...
served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
and Walter Weir
Walter Weir
Walter C. Weir was a politician who served as the 15th Premier of Manitoba from 1967 to 1969.Weir was born in High Bluff, Manitoba, and worked as a funeral director. He served as chairman of the Minnedosa Hospital Board from 1955 to 1957, and of the Minnedosa Town Council from 1958 to 1959...
in Manitoba.