Did You Know

Your Captain Is . . . Prince Philip

Club’s Super-Patriotism Impresses

Super-patriotism of Canadian Club members sent Prince Philip chuckling to his fruit cocktail at a luncheon in his honor Tuesday in the Empress Hotel.

The luncheon attended by 480 members of the Men’s and Women’s Canadian Club had started with a pianist playing some variations on O Canada and God Save the Queen.Club members, accustomed to starting all meetings with the Canadian anthem, sang along for the first few bars, but were left stranded when the pianist headed into God Save the Queen.

Women’s club president, Mrs. Leslie Macdonnell, then announced O Canada, which members sang to the end.

The Prince’s Program Attacks Problems of Today

The educational machine grabs the brilliant child and squeezes him dry without regard to any but his academic attributes, Prince Philip told members of the Victoria Men’s and Women’s Canadian Clubs, Tuesday.

The child whose talents lie in any but academic fields was forced to compete with brilliant children and so lost any sense of accomplishment, he said. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, he said, was designed to recognize and challenge all talents.

The award scheme, he said, was a program to provide the opportunity and challenge to young people to become involved, and to participate in and influence adult life.

“You may not be able to stop wars and famines, but here is an opportunity to help the next generation become responsible members of the adult world.”

“The scheme does not set out to be a cure-all or the only solution to all our problems.”

“All I claim is that it is just one more contribution to the development of civilized individuals.”

Chief Justice Gordon Hunter, Canadian Club’s First Speaker Wednesday February 27, 1907

Honourable Gordon Hunter

Honourable Gordon Hunter, chief justice of the province of British Columbia, is a native of Ontario, Canada, born in Bansville, on the 4th of May, 1863, and is of Scotch and Irish ancestry.

His father, J. Howard Hunter, was born in the south of Ireland and is descended from one of the old and distinguished families of that country. He married Miss Ann Gordon, a native of the highlands of Scotland, representing one of the old families that for generations had lived in the mountainous districts of Scotland.

In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Hunter emigrated to Ontario, Canada, where they are both living, he occupying an important office of honour and trust in that city. They became the parents of seven children, Judge Hunter being the only one in British Columbia. Two of the sons are prominent barristers of Ontario.

Having acquired his preliminary education Judge Hunter continued his studies in Toronto University, of which he is a graduate of the class of 1885 and his superior proficiency in his different studies won for him both the gold and silver medal given by that institution.

Determining upon the practice of law as a life work, he became a student in the office of McCortney & Osler and was graduated in 1888. For about three years he practiced in Ontario and in 1891 came to Victoria, British Columbia.

In the following April he was admitted to the bar of the province, but soon afterward received the appointment of crown solicitor. He formed a partnership with Honourable Theodore Davie, late chief justice of the province, and the relation was maintained until the elevation of Judge Davie to the bench. Mr. Hunter then formed a partnership with Mr. Duff and is now a justice of Victoria.

Judge Hunter held the office of labour commissioner and in March, 1902, was made chief justice of the province.

The legal profession demands a high order of ability, and a rare combination of talent, learning, tact, patience and industry. The successful lawyer and competent judge must be a man of well-balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, of general information, possessed of an analytical mind and a comprehensive self control that will enable him to lose his individuality, his personal feelings, his prejudices and his peculiarities of disposition in the dignity, impartiality and equity of the office to which life, property, right and liberty must look for protection. Possessing these qualities Judge Hunter justly merits the high honour which was conferred upon him by his elevation to his present high office.

In January, 1896, Judge Hunter was married to Mrs. Ada Nelson, a daughter of Charles F. Johnson and a native of Springfield, Illinois. Their residence is located in Belleville avenue, overlooking James Bay and the city, and its attractive hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.

Judge Hunter is a man of fine personal appearance, five feet eight inches in height and weighing two hundred pounds. He has a splendid physical development and, moreover, he possesses the sterling traits of character which command confidence and respect in every land and clime.

Entirely free from ostentation or display, approachable and genial, he nevertheless has upon the bench the dignity which should ever be associated with his high office and the citizens of the province have every reason to be proud of their chief justice.

1. E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, (Vancouver, B. C.: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906). pp. 720-721

 Agnes Deans Cameron, First Speaker Women’s Canadian Club October 18, 1909