Benjamin Massey was born in 1896. At 22 years old he enlisted in the Canadian Army during World War I. He was a solider in the 34th Fort Garry Horse regiment and spent 15 months overseas. At some point in his early life, he was employed on the C.G.S. Bradbury, however, the exact dates of his employment are unknown.
Following the war, in 1920 he married Catherine Slater in Winnipeg and found work in 1921 at the Selkirk Hospital for Mental Diseases (now Selkirk Mental Health Centre). He worked as the farm manager at the hospital for forty years until he retired in 1961.
Mayor Massey
His career in politics began as a councillor from 1938-1944. In 1958, he became the mayor, a position he maintained until 1965. During his time in office, he opened Rotary Lake along with Rotary President, George Sigurdson in 1958. Additionally, he officially opened Selkirk Lanes in 1961. At his 50th wedding anniversary celebration he was presented with prestigious award naming him as an “Honorary Mayor and Citizen.”
Massey was very active in community affairs, as he was President of the Agricultural Society, acting Chairman of the first Selkirk Fair Board, President the Selkirk Co-op Elevator Association, and the Holstein Friesian Association. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was the Chairman of the Selkirk 75th Anniversary Committee.
Benjamin Massey Collection
Sources
Red River Ancestry – Massey John Edward
Selkirk Enterprise 1958, 1961, 1962, 1970
