John Norquay

John Norquay, (1841-1889) was born in the Red River Settlement in Manitoba, a son of John Norquay and Isabella Truthwaite. His paternal grandfather, Omand Norquay emigrated to Canada from South Ronaldsay and married Jean Marwick, the daughter of another Orkneyman.

He became a protege of David Anderson, Bishop of Rupert's Land and gained a scholarship to St John's College. About 1849 he married Elizabeth Setter, daughter of George Setter and Elizabeth Kennedy, daughter of Alexander Kennedy. They moved to High Bluff, near Portage la Prairie and took up farming.

In 1870 he was elected by acclimation to represent High Bluff in the first Manitoba legislature and served as Premier for nine years (1878-1887). It was said of him "There was no native so humble that he did not feel free to place personal matters of trust in the huge gentle hands of his Premier." Norquay was widely liked in Manitoba. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, "His name has been kept alive not only because he was the province’s only premier of mixed European and native ancestry but because of his amiable disposition and considerable talents."

Mount Norquay in Banff National Park was named after him in 1904 and when a tablet was erected to his memory in 1947, the main address was given by the Premier, Stuart Garson KC LLD, whose father came from Stromness.