Frank Gordon Buchanan

Buchanan School, Calgary, Alberta, named after Frank G. Buchanan.

Frank Gordon Buchanan (died aged 95, Vancouver General Hospital, April 16 1981)[1] was chief superintendent of public schools in Calgary, Alberta from 1935 to 1951.[2]

Early life and education

Buchanan was born in or around 1886 in Rossburn, Manitoba.[2] His mother was born in Mallorytown, Ontario (which was named after her own grandfather, David Mallory) on 26 February 1858. She married the Methodist minister Dr. Thomas C. Buchanan. The two moved to "a sod shack near Rossburn"[3] and had four children: Judd Elliott, who became a lawyer and teacher; Nelles V. Buchanan, who became Edmonton's district court chief judge; Gladys Morgan; and Frank Gordon Buchanan.[1][3][4][5] The family soon moved to Alberta, where Thomas Buchanan became minister of McDougall Church in 1899.[3] Accordingly, Frank was educated in Calgary, Regina, and Edmonton.[6] He completed normal school in Regina and became principal of Victoria School, Calgary.[6] He then moved on to the University of Toronto, graduating B.A. in 1913.[6] He later went on to take M.A. and B.Paed. degrees.[6][7]

Career

On graduation from Toronto in 1913, Buchanan joined the staff of Central High School, Calgary.[2][6] In 1914, however, he became a provincial school inspector, working in Hanna, Lacombe, Medicine Hat, and Calgary.[6] He held this position until 1929, when he became assistant superintendent of Calgary schools, and then superintendent in 1935.[6] In 1937 he visited the British Isles to tour schools, at the invitation of the British Directors of Education.[6]

As chief superintendent of Calgary's public schools, Buchanan oversaw the building of seventeen schools and auditoriums, costing $3.5 million.[2]

Politics

Buchanan stood for election as a Liberal member of parliament for Calgary West in the 1951 federal by-election prompted by the resignation of Arthur LeRoy Smith, hoping to become Alberta's only Liberal MP, under the slogan "he will devote all his time to serving you".[8][9] In an editorial for the Regina-based The Leader Post, C. W. Mowers opined that "Dr. Buchanan is doubtless one of the most capable, forthright and genuinely progressive candidates ever to be presented to Alberta voters, but his age is somewhat against him".[10] He lost to the Conservative Party candidate Carl O. Nickle.[11]

Voluntarism

Buchanan served on the University of Alberta's senate from 1942 to 1948,[6][12] and also on the board of governors of Mount Royal University[2][13][6] (of which his father had been a founder-member).[14]: 326 n. 86  According to The Calgary Herald, "on his retirement, Buchanan said in a speech that experience and 'real education' are more valuable to children than mastery of facts. Buchanan said the school system should prepare students for community life through group activities".[2]

Other community activities included being president of the Calgary Kiwanis Club in 1944–45[15][7] and a member of the board of stewards of the Central United Church.[7]

Buchanan retired to Vancouver in late March 1953.[2][12][16]

Personal life

Buchanan married Florence Marie and had four children: Gordon, Thomas Hugh, Douglas, and Muriel Armstrong.[6][1]

Awards and recognition

In the fall convocation of 1947, the University of Alberta awarded Buchanan an honorary Doctor of Laws degree[17] "in recognition of his services to education".[12]

Buchanan School

A Calgary elementary school, Buchanan School, was named after Frank Buchanan.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Obituaries - News", Calgary Herald (21 Apr 1981), p. 82.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Former chief superintendent of Calgary public schools dies", Calgary Herald (21 April 1981), p. 26.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mrs. Buchanan, Mother of Judge, Passes at 100", October 27, 1958 (Page 10 of 44) The Ottawa Citizen (1954-1973); Ottawa, Ontario. 27 Oct 1958: 10.
  4. ↑ "J. E. Buchanan Dues at 59 Years", Edmonton Journal (7 October 1944), p. 19.
  5. ↑ "Judd Elliott Buchanan, B.A., LL.B.", Edmonton Journal (11 October 1944), p. 12.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Dr. Buchanan Leaves Calgary for Vancouver", Calgary Herald (24 March 1953), pp. 13, 20.
  7. 1 2 3 "Dr. F. G. Buchanan to Retire in August", ''Calgary Herald'' (15 June 1951), p. 21.
  8. ↑ "Send Dr. Buchanan to Ottawa", Calgary Herald (8 December 1951) p. 25.
  9. ↑ "Does this Picture Make Sense to you?" ''Calgary Herald'' (7 December 1951), p. 35.
  10. ↑ C. W. Mowers, "Three Fight for Calgary West", The Leader Post (8 December 1951), 13.
  11. ↑ "Nickle Obtains 4,308 Majority: Final Returns Confirm Tory Win in Calgary W.", The Windsor Daily Star (12 December 1951), p. 29.
  12. 1 2 3 "School Official to Leave for B.C.", Edmonton Journal (24 March 1953), p. 30.  
  13. ↑ "College Needs More Facilities", Calgary Herald (31 January 1944), p. 11.
  14. ↑ Baker, Donald N. (Donald Noel) (2011). Catch the gleam: Mount Royal, from college to university, 1910-2009. Calgary: University of Calgary Press. ISBN 978-1-55238-532-6.
  15. ↑ "Mayor to Install Officers", Calgary Herald (30 Dec 1944), p. 3.
  16. ↑ "Calgary Education Expert Coming", The Vancouver Sun (25 Mar 1953),p . 14.
  17. ↑ "Calgarians Receive Honorary Degrees", ''Calgary Herald'' (14 March 1947), p. 1.
  18. ↑ "Our School". Buchanan School. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
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