Pioneers and Prominent People of Saskatchewan

 

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Mac LACHLAN: Miss Ethel, Judge, Juvenile Court, Regina. Born at Lunenburg, N.S., a daughter of James and Lucy (Anderson) MacLachlan. Educated at Lunenburg Academy, Provincial Normal School, Federal Business College, Regina; teacher for several years at the Lunenburg Academy. On retiring from the teaching profession came to Saskatchewan in 1909; entered the Department of Neglected Children (1910) which at that time was composed of a Superintendent and herself. Owing to her success in this work was appointed Assistant Superintendent in 1913, often filling the Superintendent's position, and also his dual one of Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, during his absence. On the death of the latter, in 1916, she was appointed Acting Supt. and a few months later Supt., being the first lady in Canada to hold such a position. At the time she took over the direction of this department, as stated, it numbered only two members; the number of children under its control, thirty-five. At the time she left to assume the position of Juvenile Judge, the department had grown to nine members and the children under its control to 1,365. Miss MacLachlan was officially appointed as Juvenile Court Judge for Regina and its Judicial District in Sept. 1917. She has the honour to be the first and only lady Provincial Supt. of Neglected Children ever appointed in the Dominion of Canada, and the first lady Judge of Juvenile Courts in Saskatchewan. In addition to this she was appointed a special justice of the peace. In her travels throughout the Province she finds ample scope for a study of human nature, and meets with varied experiences, some of a humorous nature and others with a sadder side, but all interesting. Her court is held in many types of places, such as a humble sod shack, schoolroom, police court room (after it is cleared of adults), town hall, council chamber and at another time a community hall and a garage. In Regina a special court room is provided in the fine children's shelter. Miss MacLachlan's fine

 

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Pioneers and Prominent People of Saskatchewan