James McEvoy

James E. McEvoy [1862–1935]

b. 1862 — Carleton County, Ontario
d. 1935 — Corbin, British Columbia

McEvoy, on the staff of the Geological Survey of Canada, made a reconnaissance of the route west of Edmonton through the Yellowhead Pass in 1898, during which he took the first photograph of Mount Robson.

The son of a farmer, he was educated in Ottawa public schools and McGill University, graduating in science in 1883. For a short time he taught school and then accepted a position on the staff of the Geological Survey of Canada, where he remained for 15 years (1).

In 1889 he accompanied George Mercer Dawson [1849–1910], the assistant director of the Survey, on geological investigations in British Columbia.(2) In 1898 he made a geological survey of the Yellowhead Pass route from Edmonton to Tête Jaune Cache for the Geological Survey, passing by Mount Robson

When we first caught sight of it, a shroud of mist partially enveloped the summit, but this presently rolled away, and we saw its upper portion dimmed by a necklace of feathery clouds, beyond which its pointed apex of ice, glittering in the morning sun, shot up far into the blue heaven above. The top of the mountain is usually completely hidden and rarely indeed is it seen entirely free from clouds. The actual height of the peak is 13,700 feet, or 10,750 feet above the valley.… Although Robson Peak has been long known, its height had never been determined, nor was it supposed to be particularly notable in that respect, but now since the height of Mts. Brown, Hooker and Murchison have been proved to be greatly exaggerated, it has the distinction of being the highest known peak in the Canadian Rockies. [p. 16]

His report included a map showing the Yellowhead Pass route from Edmonton to Tête-Jaune Cache (3). Arthur Oliver Wheeler [1860–1945] wrote in 1912 (4):

The splendid report of James McEvoy, published by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1900, dealing with the geology and natural history resources of the country traversed by the Yellowhead Pass route from Edmonton to Tête-Jaune Cache, contains the most comprehensive and reliable geographical information that has yet been published, and also contains the only geographical map published of that route on a sufficiently large scale to be of value.

In 1901 Mr. McEvoy became geologist for the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company at Fernie, B.C., and in 1906 was appointed chief engineer. He relinquished those positions to commence practice in Toronto. He was regarded as one of the best authorities on coal and his services had been retained for numerous enterprises in connection with coal, iron, and oil operations, not only in Canada but in all parts of the world. He was a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the Mining and Metallurgy Institute, London, England (5)

As a young man, he had become interested in military affairs, and was an officer in the Governor General’s Foot Guards, Ottawa, later a Captain in the Kootenay Rifle. In the First World War, with the rank of Major, he was on the staff of the chief instructor in trench warfare at Niagara, London, and border camps. He was survived by his widow, formerly Miss Florence Alice Ray of Ottawa (married 10 December 1902), and one daughter, Dorothy (6).

Events in the Mount Robson region in which McEvoy was involved:

  • 1898 McEvoy Yellowhead Pass Route
Works pertinent to the Mount Robson region of which McEvoy was author or co-author:

  • —   Report on the geology and natural resources of the country traversed by the Yellowhead Pass route from Edmonton to Tête Jaune Cache comprising portions of Alberta and British Columbia. Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada, 1900. Natural Resources Canada
  • —   “Map Showing Yellowhead Pass Route From Edmonton To Tête-Jaune Cache.” (1900). Natural Resources Canada
References:

  • 1. Whittaker, John A., editor. Early Land Surveyors of British Columbia (P.L.S. Group). Victoria, B.C.: The Corporation of Land Surveyors of the Province of British Columbia, 1990
  • 2. Dawson, George Mercer [1849–1901]. “Notes on the Shuswap people of British Columbia.” Transactions of the Royal Society Canada, Section 2 (1891). University of British Columbia
  • 3. McEvoy, James E. [1862–1935]. Report on the geology and natural resources of the country traversed by the Yellowhead Pass route from Edmonton to Tête Jaune Cache comprising portions of Alberta and British Columbia. Ottawa: Geological Survey of Canada, 1900. Natural Resources Canada
  • 4. Wheeler, Arthur Oliver [1860–1945]. “The Alpine Club of Canada’s expedition to Jasper Park, Yellowhead Pass and Mount Robson region, 1911.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 4 (1912):9-80
  • 5. Whittaker, John A., editor. Early Land Surveyors of British Columbia (P.L.S. Group). Victoria, B.C.: The Corporation of Land Surveyors of the Province of British Columbia, 1990
  • 6. “James McEvoy (obituary).” Ottawa Journal, 22 July (1935)

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