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There is no man in the
province of Alberta more familiar with newspaper work in all of its
phases than George Gordon, editor and publisher of the Ponoka Herald. He
was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 8th of October, 1868, a son
of John and Jessie (Barker) Gordon, likewise natives of that country,
both of whom have passed away.
In the acquirement of his
education George Gordon attended the public schools of his birthplace
and at the age of thirteen years started upon a seven-year
apprenticeship in the printing business. He learned the trade on the
Northern Chronicle, where he started feeding job presses. From that kind
of work he went up through the various stages of the news- paper
business, thence into book work and finally into general job work. By
the time he was twenty years of age he was thoroughly versed in all
phases of the printing business. He followed that line of work in the
old country for some time, until his wife's ill health and his desire
for a change caused him to come to Canada. Red Deer was the first place
in which he located, arriving there in 1904. He accepted a position on
the newspaper there but a week later resigned and came to Ponoka. At
that time the Ponoka Herald was for sale. Mr. Gordon was not financially
able to purchase the paper, but the business men of Ponoka came to his
aid. The paper, which had heretofore been in a very bad condition, soon
became a progressive and interesting sheet and today it has a
substantial circulation and is accorded a place among the most
representative papers in the province. Mr. Gordon has proven himself a
man of keen discrimination and business ability and through the Ponoka
Herald has assisted in the furtherance of many movements for the
upbuilding of the community. He has won the confidence and esteem of his
fellowmen and well merits the success he has achieved.
Mr. Gordon was united in
marriage to Miss Jessie Fraser and to them two children have been born:
John, a veteran of the Great war, who served overseas with the Canadian
army; and Marjorie.
Although the greater part
of Mr. Gordon's time is devoted to his newspaper work, he has been
prominent in political circles both as a member of the town council and
as mayor of the community. During his administration in the office of
mayor he inaugurated and brought to completion many movements resulting
in the development and improvement of Ponoka. For six years Mr. Gordon
was secretary and treasurer of the local Board of Trade. He is a great
believer in the future of western Canada and one of Ponoka's most active
boosters. He finds his greatest recreation in outdoor sports and spends
a great deal of his spare time in duck hunting. |
