One of Canada’s leading journalists and newspaper publishers was installed as the Crown’s representative in British Columbia on this date in 1920. Walter Nichol was born in Ontario and early in his life started to make his mark in journalism. He was only 15 when he became editor of Canada’s national magazine for cyclists. After this, Nichol never looked back.
He moved west and became editor-in-chief of the Vancouver Daily Province. Soon after, he bought the controlling shares of the paper. “By 1910 (it was) the leading newspaper in British Columbia and only the Manitoba Free Press (Winnipeg) matched its influence in western Canada,” reports his Dictionary of Canadian Biography entry. “Nichol displayed keen judgement in hiring staff and in later years he delegated most of the writing and editorial tasks to his subordinates while he pursued other business interests, investing in many small and medium-sized companies in western Canada. He served as president of the Pacific Marine Insurance Company and was a director of the Royal Trust Company.”
In 1920, he was appointed the King’s representative in B.C. and served with distinction until 1926. You can learn more about this fascinating journalist and Lt.-Governor at this link.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.