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Alberta, Past and Present, Historical and Biographical
Vol 2
William Mather


William Mather, proprietor of the Bow River Boat House & Skating Rink of Banff, is one of its substantial citizens. He was born in Eaglesham, Scotland, in October, 1867, a son of John and Janet (Picken) Mather, natives of Scotland. In 1880 the Mather family came to Canada and located in Ontario, and the father has since engaged in farming in that province. He is now eighty-six years of age and is enjoying the best of health. Mrs. Mather died in March, 1920.

In the acquirement of his education William Mather attended the public schools of his native land and was thirteen years of age when his parents came to this country. For the first two or three years he worked in the lumber camps and in 1887 went to Calgary, where he continued in the lumber business for four years. In 1891 Mr. Mather came to Banff and for three or four years worked for the owner of the business of which he is now the proprietor, eventually purchasing the enterprise. This is his twenty-seventh year as proprietor of the boathouse, which is the best and largest in the Northwest country. His boathouse equipment includes launches, motor boats, row boats and canoes.

In July. 1896, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mather to Miss Margaret Curren and they have the following children: Jennie, born on the 4th of May, 1897; Leslie, born in June, 1898; Allan, born in November, 1899; and Hazel, whose birth occurred in March, 1908.

In his political views Mr. Mather is a Conservative. For fifteen years he has been secretary and treasurer of the school district and he is an active member of the Citizens Council. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. For recreation he turns to boating and curling and he has been a member of the Banff Curling Club for twenty years.


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