William Ewing

William Ewing, prominent local businessman, sportsman and philanthropist, died at the Western Division of the Montreal General Hospital here Saturday, following burns received in the explosion of a motorboat two weeks ago in the Lachine Canal. He was in his 61st year.

President of the William Ewing Co Limited well-known seed firm, he was president also of the Quebec Division of the Navy League of Canada for several years, and devoted a large portion of his time to the Navy League's work with young boys -- stepping up this activity during the five wartime years just past, as the need demanded. Coincidently, it was on a Navy League mission to inspect the Navy league camp at Three Rivers, that Mr Ewing suffered severe burns when the boat on which he was travelling exploded. He had been reported as recovering from his injuries, but Saturday morning suffered a fatal heart attack.

Born in this city, the son of William Ewing, founder of the well-known seed firm, and his wife, the former Catherine Graham, he was educated here and entered his father's firm at a comparatively early age.

Active in sports in his youth, William Ewing took a keen interest in the executive end of all athletic endeavor. He was a life member and director of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, and headed the Montreal Football Club on one occasion when they won the Big-4 title. He was also a prominent executive of the Big-4 league for some years.

In this connection, too, he was a keen golfer and is vice-president of the Islesmere Golf Club and also a member of the Lac Raquette Fish and Game Club.

He was an executive member of the Canadian Trade and Seed Associaton, and took an active interest in the work of this body to better the quality of seed in the province and the Dominion, and an active member of the Montreal Rotary Club for many years.

While William Ewing had thousands of friends throughout the city and province, and indeed across Canada, through his sports and business activities over several decades, it was his work with the Navy League of Canada that brought him into personal contact with thousands of boys and young men, navy league cadets, who have gone out to other branches of the service to carry with them an appreciation of the qualities of mind and heart that prompted the man who became president of the Quebec Division of the league to devote so much time and effort to its welfare, and to attract around him an executive of exceptional quality to carry on the work, so essential in this country, especially in time of war.

The fact that he was reelected, again and again, to the post of division president, speaks for itself of his popularity with those aorund him in this endeavor; and the records show that under his guidance the League here rose to its greatest heights.

The summer camp of the Navy League, to which Mr. Ewing was going when the accident that subsequently cost his life occurred, was one of his most recent and most ardent undertakings. From a campaign for $65,000 into the gathering of which he threw every effort, William Ewing suggested that $15,000 be marked for a camp, to further build to fitness the boys of which he was so personally proud.

Not only with the Sea Cadet Corps, though, was William Ewing active, for he found time in his busy life to aid in supervising the activities of the Allied Merchant Seamen's Club and the Merchant Navy Officers Club, two groups in which he was largely interested.

He is survived by his wife, the former Isobel Forbes, who he married in 1912; a son, Captain William Ewing of the Black Watch, now overseas; a daughter (Isobel) Mrs. Walter G Attridge; a brother, Thomas G Ewing, all of Montreal; four sisters, Mrs. J Spencer Smith, N.J., Mrs E Campbell of Montreal; Mrs James B Bryson of Ottawa; and Mrs W A McIntosh of Long Island. A brother, Archibald C Ewing was killed in the Great War 1914-1918. There are also two grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held Tuesday at 2.30 pm at Knox-Crescent Church, of which he was a member of the Board of Management. Rev. William McLean will officiate, assisted by Rev Malcolm A Campbell, DD.

Burial will take place in Mount Royal Cemetery.⁶

FINAL TRIBUTE PAID TO WILLIAM EWING
Many Attend Funeral of Prominent Sportsman, Navy League Official
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Impressive tribute was paid to William Ewing, prominent local business man, philanthropist and sportsman, when a large number of friends gathered at his funeral held at Knox Crescent Church, Dorchester street west, yesterday at 2.30 p.m.
President of the well known seed firm of William Ewing Co., Limited, which he took over at the death of his father, the late William Ewing, he was prominent in youth work as president of the Quebec Division, Navy League of Canada, and took an active part in many of the local sports organizations.
Mr. Ewing died here Saturday from a heart attack suffered while he was in hospital recovering from burns received when a motor boat, on which he was travelling to Three Rivers two weeks ago to inspect the Sea Cadet Camp there, exploded in the Lachine Canal.