Memorable Manitobans: William Sydney Ronald (1880-1950)

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William Sydney Ronald
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Chartered accountant.

Born at Toronto, Ontario in 1880, son of William M. and Emma W. Ronald, he came with his family to Winnipeg in 1881 and was educated at local public and commercial schools. He began working as a accountant for father in 1893 and moved to Toronto in 1896 where he did accountancy work for several large corporations and firms while studying for his Chartered Accountancy degree, which he subsequently received in 1903. He returned to Winnipeg in 1901 and established the firm of Ronald, Griggs and Company. It later became known as Edwards & Ronald.

On 5 September 1905, he married Florence Lillian Ainley at Winnipeg. They had a daughter, O’Dare Ronald (wife of W. Bruce Gunn, daughter-in-law of J. A. Gunn). During the First World War, he was active with the Red Cross. In later years, he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and was an active member of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. He served as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba. He was a member of the St. Charles Country Club, Motor Country Club, Adanac Club, Carleton Club, AF & AM, and the Methodist Church. His recreations included riding, fishing, and yachting.

He died at his Winnipeg home, 120 Handsart Boulevard, on 17 November 1950 and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, edited by C. W. Parker, Vancouver: Canadian Press Association, 1911.

Who's Who and Why, Volumes 6 and 7, 1915-1916, page 724.

Marriage announcement [Ronald-Gunn], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 October 1946, page 11.

“W. S. Ronald accountant, dies at 70 years,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 November 1950, page 9.

We thank John Gunn for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 November 2021

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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