Percy Beall Scurrah (June 17, 1883 – July 14, 1970) was mayor of

Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. The ...

Canada from 1955 to 1961. He was the first mayor to have three consecutive terms. He is responsible for bringing the

BC Ferries British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, publicly owned Canadian company. BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferr ...

to Victoria - prior to that, the only service to the mainland (Vancouver) was through the CPR ferry through Nanaimo. He was born in Brechin, Ontario.

Mayoral achievements

Aside from pulling Victoria out of a budget deficit, was the replacement of the "shaky" Point Ellice Bridge, and development of today's Centennial Square, commemorating the city's 100th birthday in January 1962.

Private life

Scurrah attended Hillcrest Academy in Ontario for his early education and later went to Queen's University in Kingston. He married Mabel Dynes in 1914, and for 65 years they resided at what became known as “The Scurrah House” at "19 King George Terrace" in Oak Bay, where he enjoyed gardening. (The house is now owned by the wife of an American diplomat, Mrs. Joan Dale).

Business

Mayor Scurrah also owned Scurrah's, Ltd., selling quality dresses, coats, suits and sportswear at 728-730 Yates Street, a landmark in Victoria until it closed in 1962.

Rotary

Scurrah was a proud

Rotarian Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Its stated mission is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through hefellowship of business, prof ...

with a perfect attendance record for decades - he served as Rotary Club President, Northwest District Governor and International Director in Canada. He was also director of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the retail merchants association. Scurrah died in 1970 at the

Royal Jubilee Hospital Royal Jubilee Hospital is a 500-bed general hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada located about east of the city centre, in the Jubilee neighbourhood (itself named after the hospital). Overview Its name commemorates the Golden Jubilee ...

at the age of 87. He has the honour of being called "one of Victoria's greatest citizens".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scurrah, Percy Beall 1883 births 1970 deaths Mayors of Victoria, British Columbia