A Brief History of Canada's National Parks

About the Author

William Fergus Lothian, the author of this history, completed nearly 64 years in the Public Service of Canada on March 31, 1981. Much of his service was with Parks Canada. He fulfilled successively the duties of clerk, book-keeper, publicity assistant, publicity writer, and administrator, ending his permanent service of 51 years as Assistant Chief of the National Parks Service.

Following his retirement in 1968, he accepted an invitation from his director to compile, under contract, a definitive history of the development of national parks in Canada. This volume is a revised and expanded edition of the first of a series of four volumes published from 1976 to 1983.

"Ferg" Lothian has had an active life. He has headed tennis and badminton governing bodies in the national capital; wrote a sports column for the Ottawa Journal for 17 years; and is an honorary life member of the Ottawa Tennis Club. He is a former director of the Historical Society of Ottawa, an emeritus member of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and in 1978 was awarded the J.B. Harkin medal by the National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada in recognition of his service and contribution to the administration of national parks. Mr. Lothian was 86 years old on June 16, 1986.

W.F. Lothian