Persona

Cranston, William Herbert Cornell

• W. H. Cranston

1914-1978

William Cranston was born on May 1st, 1914 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of James Herbert Cranston and Eva Wilkins. He received his early education in Toronto schools before attending McMaster University from 1932 to 1935, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

From 1929 to 1932, Cranston was a reporter with the Toronto Star. During the Second World War, he worked in Ottawa with the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. At the same time, he was one of the owners of the Midland Free Press and printed the R.A. News, which was the newsletter of the Ottawa Civil Service Recreational Association. He served as Manager of the Midland Free Press Ltd. from 1935 to 1940, and President from 1947 to 1955. He also served as Vice-President and President of the Shoe Corporation of Canada Ltd.

In addition to his career, Cranston was active in numerous community and journalistic associations. He was President of the Class A Newspapers of Canada (1955-1956) and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association (1951-1956). Cranston also served as President of the Midland Chamber of Commerce (1951- 1952); Secretary Treasurer of the Georgian Bay Development Association (1957-1964); and President of the Huronia Historic Sites Association. In addition, Cranston was the Trent Area representative of the Canada Ontario Rideau Trent Severn Agreement Board and Advisory Committee. Moreover, Cranston chaired the Ontario Economic Council as well as the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board. While with the Economic Council, he became involved in the Ontario Centennial Project, the Ontario Science Centre (1963- 1969) and the Ontario Heritage Foundation (1966-1974).

He married Viola Wheeler on May 11, 1937, and their had one son, John.

F 1038 W. H. Cranston fonds, Archives of Ontario

Cranston, James Herbert (1880-1952)