SIDNEY E. SHAW, M.D.
 


	Dr. Sidney E. Shaw of Biggar is a man of varied activities and has
perhaps done more, or at least as much, for his fellowmen as any promi-
nent man in the Dominion. A native of Nova Scotia, he was born at
Berwick on the 24th of September, 1872, a son of Henry and Margaret
(Brown) Shaw. His father was born in Nova. Scotia and was known as
the "Cranberry King", growing apples and cranberries, and making a
specialty of the latter. His death occurred in his native province in March,
1916, at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Shaw died in May, 1895. On
the maternal side Dr. Shaw is descended from Pocahontas.
	The public schools of Berwick, Nova Scotia, afforded Sidney E. Shaw
his preliminary education and he then entered one of the first schools
for men nurses, the McLean Hospital Training School at Waverly, Massa-
chusetts, near Boston. After graduation from that institution he did pri-
vate nursing for a while and then entered Dalhousie University at Halifax,
graduating with the M. D. degree in 1899. For the following two years
he was a temporary medical officer in the navy and then for one year was
house surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital at Halifax. At the termina-
tion of that time he returned to his native town, Berwick, and practiced
there for nine years. In 1910 he came west and located in Biggar and
he is affectionately known as "the father of the town". Biggar was or-
ganized as a town in 1909 and since taking up residence here the Doctor
has been an influential factor in its remarkable growth and development.
Aside from his practice, which is of an extensive and important nature,
he has operated a drug store here for the past two years. When he first
came to Biggar the Doctor acquired a homestead of a half section of fine
land and he has brought the place to a highly developed state and thereon
has engaged in scientific farming, which is one of his hobbies.  In 1914
he was awarded the local government prize of five hundred dollars for
the best ten acres of alfalfa and 1923 is the fourth year that he has sold
grain grasses and clover for the Dominion government exhibit in Eng-
land. For five years the government demonstration was carried on at his
farm. One of the main ambitions of the Doctor is to find some practical
use for this light soil.  This year, 1923, he had five hundred and sixty
acres of land in winter rye.  Dr. Shaw is of an inventive turn of mind
and among his inventions are a refrigerator and shower bath.  The re-
frigerator requires no ice and should prove of immense value to the house-
keeper.
	On the 22d of October, 1902, Dr. Shaw was married to Miss Clara
Crispo, a daughter of Francis and Susan (Bourne) Crispo, natives of
England.  Her father was chief clerk in the Customs Department
at Montreal for a good many years, finally retiring from active
life. His death occurred in May, 1898, and Mrs. Crispo passed away in
February, 1908. Dr. and Mrs. Shaw became parents of one child, Francis
Crispo, who was born on the 23d of October, 1903, and died on the 11th
of February, 1918, when fourteen years of age.
	In his political views the Doctor has always been independent, giving
his support to the man best fitted for the office without regard to party
principles. He has always maintained an active interest in civic affairs
and he was a member of the city council for a number of years. He held
the office of mayor five years and during that time inaugurated and
brought to completion many movements for the development and improve-
ment of the community. Biggar is one of the most prosperous towns of
its size throughout the Dominion and it owes a debt of gratitude to the
Doctor for the part he has played in helping in its success and continued
prosperity.  Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Foresters and his religious faith
is that of the Baptist church.  Along strictly professional lines he is
identified with the Saskatchewan Medical Society.  Dr. Shaw was com-
missioned a captain in the Medical Corps upon the outbreak of the Great
war but did not get to do active service overseas. He has recently pub-
lished a pamphlet on a new system of grain growing, which is most suited
to western conditions, and which when widely adopted, will mark a turn-
ing point in that branch of farming.  The Doctor is a man of unusual
activity and genius. In his case the old saying "Jack of all trades and
master of none" is not true, for he has been successful in every under-
taking.


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