JOHN M. McKAY.
 


	Gradually working his way upward, undeterred by obstacles and diffi-
culties in his path, John M. McKay is now superintendent of this division
of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Saskatoon and is one of the city's
most highly esteemed business men. A native of Ontario, his birth oc-
curred in Bruce county, in March, 1868, a son of Malcolm and Christine
(McKay) McKay, the former a native of Cape Breton and the latter of
Ontario.  Malcolm McKay was one of the first agents for the Massey
Company at Portage la Prairie, having been associated with the Joseph
Hall Machine Works of Oshawa as their general agent for the county of
Bruce. In 1883 he engaged in farming in Manitoba, and was active in
agricultural pursuits for ten years.  He then accepted a position with
Frost & Wood in Winnipeg, remaining in their employ until his death in
May, 1906. Mrs. McKay died in August, 1887.
	For two years John McKay attended the public schools of Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba, and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in
farming with his father for ten years. In 1895 he made his initial step
into railway circles, accepting a position with the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way as brakeman, serving in that capacity until 1900, when he was pro-
moted to the position of conductor and in 1906 he was made trainmaster
at Winnipeg. In 1911 he was made acting superintendent of terminals
at Winnipeg and in August, 1912, moved to British Columbia to fill a
like position. In December of that year he was appointed superintendent
of the Mountain Division at Revelstoke, British Columbia, where he re-
mained until February 1, 1917, when he was transferred to Saskatoon,
and has since been in charge of this division of the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way. Mr. McKay has eight hundred miles of railroad to superintend in
Northern Saskatchewan. He stands as a splendid type of the progressive
man, who at the outset of his career recognized the fact that there is no
royal road to wealth. He felt that his advancement must depend upon
individual efforts and ability and he has concentrated his labors along
the lines that have been the most resultant. He is thoroughly conversant
with the various lines of work that come under his direction and his long
practical experience well enables him to direct the labors of his subordi-
nates.
	In July, 1896, Mr. McKay was married to Miss Ray Lamb and to their
union one child was born: Gordon D., whose birth occurred on the 6th of
September, 1897, and who graduated in law from Harvard University
on the 13th of June, 1923. Mrs. McKay died on the 5th of January, 1901.
On the 27th of December, 1922, Mr. McKay was married to Mrs. Eva
Archer. In his political tendencies Mr. McKay is a stanch supporter of
the provincial government and he is essentially public-spirited. His re-
ligious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and fraternally he is
identified with the Masons, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is
a member of the local Board of Trade, the Rotary Club, the Canadian
Club, the Saskatoon Club, the Shrine Club and the Riverside Country
Club. Mr. McKay has unbounded confidence in the future of Saskatche-
wan and is ready to lend his cooperation to any movement calculated to
benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.



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