John Walter Weart
Encyclopedia
John Walter Weart was a lawyer, businessman and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented South Vancouver
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1916 to 1920 as a Liberal
.
He was born in Brockville, Ontario
, the son of John Weart. Weart was employed at a foundry in Brockville and then worked as a carpenter in Belleville
from 1873 to 1879. After obtaining a teacher's certificate, he taught school in Hastings County
. Weart travelled west and worked in the furniture business in Manitoba
from 1882 to 1890. In 1883, he married Minnie Reid. Weart studied law in British Columbia with George H. Cowan and went on to practice law from 1898 to 1905. He was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1907. Weart was manager and solicitor for the Metropolitan Building Company. He served as reeve of Burnaby
in 1911 and 1912. Weart was speaker for the provincial assembly
from 1917 until the start of the 1918 session. His building company was credited with initiating the construction of the first skyscraper
s in Vancouver. Weart died in Vancouver.
The Weart Glacier and Mount Weart were named in his honour; Weart was named chairman of the Garibaldi Provincial Park
board in 1927.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He represented South Vancouver
South Vancouver (electoral district)
South Vancouver was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It first appeared on the hustings in the general election of 1916 ....
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 1916 to 1920 as a Liberal
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
.
He was born in Brockville, Ontario
Brockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
, the son of John Weart. Weart was employed at a foundry in Brockville and then worked as a carpenter in Belleville
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
from 1873 to 1879. After obtaining a teacher's certificate, he taught school in Hastings County
Hastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
. Weart travelled west and worked in the furniture business in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
from 1882 to 1890. In 1883, he married Minnie Reid. Weart studied law in British Columbia with George H. Cowan and went on to practice law from 1898 to 1905. He was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1907. Weart was manager and solicitor for the Metropolitan Building Company. He served as reeve of Burnaby
Burnaby, British Columbia
Burnaby is a city in British Columbia, Canada, located immediately to the east of Vancouver. It is the third-largest city in British Columbia by population, surpassed only by nearby Surrey and Vancouver....
in 1911 and 1912. Weart was speaker for the provincial assembly
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the presiding officer of the British Columbia legislature.-The office of Speaker in British Columbia:...
from 1917 until the start of the 1918 session. His building company was credited with initiating the construction of the first skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
s in Vancouver. Weart died in Vancouver.
The Weart Glacier and Mount Weart were named in his honour; Weart was named chairman of the Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park, also called Garibaldi Park, is a wilderness park located in British Columbia, Canada, about 70 kilometres north of Vancouver. The park is located to the east of the Sea to Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler and covers an area of over 1,950 square kilometres...
board in 1927.