Motherwell, William Richard National Historic Person

Abernethy, Saskatchewan
Portrait of William Richard Motherwell © Expired; Library and Archives Canada |  expiré; Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-21163
Portrait
© Expired; Library and Archives Canada | expiré; Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-21163
Portrait of William Richard Motherwell © Expired; Library and Archives Canada |  expiré; Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / C-21163William Richard Motherwell © Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Address : Highway 22, Abernethy, Saskatchewan

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 1966-05-25
Life Date: 1860 to 1943

Other Name(s):
  • William Richard Motherwell  (Designation Name)
  • W.R. Motherwell  (Plaque name)
Research Report Number: 1966-016

Importance: Federal Minister of Agriculture; founded Territorial Grain Growers' Association

Plaque(s)


Existing plaque: To the immediate right of the visitor centre main entrance in the south end of Motherwell Homestead NHSC, Highway 22, Abernethy, Saskatchewan

Born in Perth, Ontario, Motherwell moved to Abernethy as a young man. For the rest of his life he worked in the cause of the western farmer. In 1901 he initiated the Territorial Grain Growers' Association, the parent of subsequent provincial associations which led to improvements in the inspection and shipment of grain. Minister of agriculture for Saskatchewan (1905-1918) and for Canada (1921-1926; 1926-1930), he established an agricultural college at the University of Saskatchewan and aided in creating the Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Company.