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• 1 2025-07-28T17:48:54+00:00 H. J. Oliver, Trustee of Dalhousie 11 plain 2025-10-08T14:45:28+00:00 H. J. Oliver became a Trustee of the Ottawa Public School Board in 1918. The school board at this time was composed of two trustees per each of the nine wards in the city. Bayswater Avenue was in the Dalhousie Ward at this time, so he replaced Charles MacNabb who previously was one of the Dalhousie trustees. Though the majority of the trustees were men, there were a few women on the Board, both married and unmarried.
  slipped by the terrace
  made a sudden leap
  and seeing that it was a soft october night
  curled about the house and fell asleep
  and indeed there will be time for the yellow smoke which slides along the street
  rubbing its back on the windowpanes
  there will be time, there will be time to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet
  there will be time to murder and create
  and time for all the days and weeks of hands to lift and drop a question on your plate
  
  before the taking of a toast and tea
  
  
  While H. J. Oliver on the Board, he tried to get his family's furniture factory the contract for Ottawa's school furniture, but the tender was submitted too late and dismissed. He also headed the Public Schools Defence League who protested the alteration in the Schools Act which would divert funds away from public schools to separate (private) schools. In addition to heading many initiatives, he seemed to be a witty member of the Board—or at least he enjoyed teasing his fellow members.
  
  the yellow fog which rubs its back on the windowpanes, the yellow smoke which rubs its muzzle on the windowpanes
  llicked its tongue in the corners of the evening
  lingered on pools that stand in drains
  let fall upon its back the soot that falls on chimneys
  H. J. Oliver was voted to be Chairman in 1926 by ten votes out of eighteen, replacing Alex McKechnie. In this role, he was appointed to be on the Educational Committee for Ottawa’s Centennial Celebration.
  
  The Board underwent massive restructuring during H. J. Oliver’s terms. Since some wards had a higher percentage of separate schools to public schools, it was thought that two members per ward produced disproportionate representation. Instead of wards, the idea was that only nine members would be elected from any area of the city. They hoped that more responsible citizens would be attracted to the Board—which was of great importance, since the Board annually spent $500,000 (today almost $9M). Three of the nine members would remain for three years, three for two years, and three for one year. Who would retire each year would be decided by vote. After the first two years, the Board would work on terms of three years. Most Board members were in favour of reducing the number of members, but there was some worry that not all demographics (ex: religions) would be represented. The reduction seemed to happen after H. J. Oliver left the Public School Board.
  
  H. J. Oliver retired in 1928, citing his frequent absences from Ottawa. The absences did not prevent him from running for alderman when he moved to the Elmdale ward.
  
  
  
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