John Girdlestone Glassco (1879-1948)

Engineer, civil servant.

Born at Hamilton, Ontario on 10 September 1879, son of John T. Glassco and Charlotte Stinson, he was educated at the Hamilton public and high schools and McGill University. He lectured at McGill and did postgraduate work leading to a Master of Science degree. He started work with the Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company, later with the Southern California Edison Company. He returned to Hamilton in 1905 as Chief Engineer of the Dominion Power Company. He came to Winnipeg in 1909 and worked as an electrical engineer on the power construction work of the Winnipeg municipal power plant. In 1912, he was appointed Manager of the Hydro Electric System. He saw the growth of the Hydro System grow from assets of $3,000,000 to $17,000,000, serving 47,000 customers, and with a maximum output of 125,000,000 electrical units.

On 30 December 1903, he married Esther June Grant of Montreal. They had three sons and three daughters. He was a member of Manitoba Club, St. Charles Country Club, Pine Ridge Club, Winnipeg Golf Club, and the Anglican Church. He served on the Winnipeg City Council from 1945 to 1946. In 1925, he lived at 2 Evergreen Place, Winnipeg.

He died at Winnipeg on 12 April 1948 and was buried in St. John’s Cemetery.

Sources:

“Men of Winnipeg in Diamond Jubilee Sketches” Winnipeg Free Press, December 1934. [Winnipeg Elite Study, G. Friesen Fonds, Mss 154, Box 15, File 8, University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections]

“Glassco funeral arrangements set”, Winnipeg Free Press, 13 April 1948, page 11.

Profile revised: 22 January 2010

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