Ralph L.T. Chetwynd
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Ralph Chetwynd MC |
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Ralph and Frances Chetwynd (1954)
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| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Cariboo |
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In office June 12, 1952 – September 19, 1956 |
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| Preceded by | Angus MacLean |
| Succeeded by | William C. Speare |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 June 1888 Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 3 April 1957 (aged 66) Saanich, British Columbia |
| Political party | British Columbia Social Credit Party |
| Occupation | businessman |
The Honourable William Ralph Talbot Chetwynd (28 July 1890 – 3 April 1957) was a British-Canadian businessman and politician. The town of Chetwynd, British Columbia was named in his honor.
Born in Staffordshire, England, he was the younger brother of Sir (Arthur Henry) Talbot Chetwynd, 7th Baronet. He came to Canada at the age of eighteen, and was soon in Ashcroft, British Columbia (west of Kamloops Lake). He received employment from Charles Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey (nephew of Lady Florence Cecilia Paget, who was married to Chetwynd's first cousin once removed Sir George, 4th Baronet) to manage Anglesey’s fruit farm holdings at Walhachin.
On 8 October 1912, he married Frances Mary Jupe, daughter of James Jupe of Mere, Wiltshire.
He fought in World War I as a member of the Royal Field Artillery, attaining the rank of lieutenant therein. He received the Military Cross in 1918 for his service.
After returning from Europe, he entered cattle ranching and the transportation business needed to get the cattle and other agriculture products to eastern markets. As a fruit grower and rancher, he saw both the potential for the Cariboo and Peace River Country, but also the need for efficient rail transportation to serve the region.
In 1942 he became the public relations officer for Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE; later BC Rail; now part of the CN Rail system), a post he held until 1952; he also served as a director of the PGE. He was a big advocate for building a railroad to central British Columbia. Running as a member from the District of Cariboo, he was elected to provincial legislature in 1952. He served on the Executive Council of British Columbia as Minister of Trade and Industry, Railways and Fisheries from 1952 to 1956, and also as Minister of Agriculture. At the age of 66, ill health forced him to retire from politics.
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