Sloan, Gordon McGregor

Person

Sloan, Gordon McGregor

1898-1959

Gordon McGregor Sloan was born on May 16 1898 in Nanaimo. He was the son of Hon. William Sloan and Flora (Glaholm) Sloan. The Hon. William Sloan, served as an Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Oliver and Brewster governments and was an elected Member of Parliament for the Comox-Alberni area during the Laurier government. Gordon McGregor Sloan was educated at University School Victoria and Langara School, Vancouver. On December 7th, 1916 he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He served in both the Royal Flying Corps (RCF) and its successor the Royal Air Force (RAF), from 1916-1919, as a pilot and a pilot instructor. On Oct. 16 1918, he married Nancy Porter Nicol. Although they met in England, she was originally from Scotland. After World War I, Sloan returned to British Columbia to continue the study of law. He articled with firm of Elliott, MacLean and Shandley in Victoria. In 1921, he was called to bar. From 1921 to 1933, he was in private practice with Farris and Company in Vancouver. On Nov. 15 1933, he was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Vancouver Center, and appointed Attorney-General. Gordon McGregor and Nancy Sloan had two children, David and Betty (Marshall). Both Gordon and Nancy Sloan were active members of the provincial Liberal Party. In April 1937, Sloan resigned his seat and was appointed to the Court of Appeal. In 1940, he was appointed to the Federal Royal Commission into Salmon fishing. This was followed by appointments as commissioner to: the Workmen's Compensation Board Inquiry,1942; Royal Commission on Forest Resources in 1943-1945; Workmen's Compensation Board Inquiry, in 1952; and Royal Commission on Forest Resources, in 1955-1957. From 1944-1957, he served as Chief Justice of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. During this time he also served as an arbitrator and mediator in many provincial and national labour disputes. In 1946, he was the mediator in the International Woodworkers of America (IWA) strike. He was also named chairman of the arbitration board for signed IWA contract. In 1952 he was involved in mediation for another IWA strike. From 1954 to 1955, Sloan was the arbitrator for a national railway dispute. On September 4 1952 he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws, from the University of British Columbia. On December 1957 he was appointed special Advisor on Forest Resources and Industries. He died on January 14, 1959 following complications from a heart attack in November. He was 60. At the time of his death, the Sloan family resided in Victoria.

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