Date Published:
2004

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

William Massey Birks

Vice-President, Henry Birks & Sons, Ltd., Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and Halifax. Born Montreal, Oct. 25, 1868, son of Henry and Harriet Phillips (Walker) Birks; grandson of John Birks, of Darfield, Yorkshire. Educated: High School, Montreal, and McGill University. Married Miriam Childs Gifford, June 16th, 1891. Has four sons and three daughters. Vice-President, Mount Royal Hotel Co.; Director, Ryrie Bros. Ltd., Toronto; Director, Molsons Bank; Director, National Trust Co.; Director, Sun Life Assurance Co.; Director of Isaac Ellis & Sons, Sheffield, England. With Henry Birks & Co. since 1885; elected Vice-President when firm was incorporated, 1904; Governor, McGill University; Chairman, Joint Board of the Theological Colleges affiliated to McGill University; Chairman of all the Montreal Patriotic Fund, Red Cross, and Military Y.M.C.A. financial campaigns conducted during the war; Chairman, National War Savings Commission for Province of Quebec; President of Association of Canadian Clubs, 1920; Chairman of Montreal Canadian Club, 1918; President, Montreal Board of Trade, 1922. Recreation: Yachting. Clubs: Mount Royal; St. James's; Engineers; Montreal; Royal St. Lawrence Yacht; York ( Toronto ); Mount Bruno Country Club. Presbyterian. Residence: 294 Stanley Street, Montreal.

Source: Prominent People of the Province of Quebec, 1923-24, Montreal, Biographical Society of Canada, Limited, undated and unpaginated.