Alexander (Sandy) McIntyre (1885-1971)

Sandy was one of four children born to Alexander Clerihew McIntyre (1848-1932) and Jane Chalmers (1847-1933). Over their lifetimes, all members of the family immigrated to Canada from Scotland.

He was born in Glasgow on April 28, 1885, and grew up in the surrounding area. On his birth record, the family is noted as living at 16 Dalhousie Street in Glasgow. The location “Airdriehead Farm” is mentioned in letters of Sandy’s; this is in Cumbernauld, in between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The site of that farm is now part of a park.

Other sources place his residence as being “Glasgow Govan”, and 34 Garturk Street in Glasgow.

On Sandy’s birth registration, his father’s occupation is shown as being a “grocer”. An uncle on his mother’s side, Hugh Brechin, was also a grocer.

In around 1861, James Brechin started in business as a butcher at 15 Castle Street, Glasgow. Four years later, William Brechin set up in the same profession at 290 Gallowgate, Glasgow and in around 1869 the two businesses merged, along with a third partner, Hugh Brechin, to form Brechin Brothers. By 1888, the new firm had two outlets in Edinburgh and five in Glasgow. It was incorporated as Brechin Brothers Ltd in around 1904 . By 1950, Brechin Brothers Ltd had 14 shops in the Glasgow area. It entered liquidation in 1992.

From Sandy’s own recounting, he was educated in Scotland but had moved to London as a young man. There is correspondence placing him in Wimbledon in the years before he immigrated to Canada. He had apparently written the civil service exams in his search for a career path, but then decided to emigrate.

He arrived in Canada aboard the “Sicilian” on July 22, 1907, at the age of 22. His “final destination” is indicated on the incoming passenger list as being Roblin, Manitoba; his occupation is noted as being a clerk.

He married Deborah Lorraine Russell on July 14, 1921; together they had two children:

Alexander Russell McIntyre (1923-1943 – killed on active service in England) – born in Virden, Manitoba

Catherine Jean McIntyre (1927-1985) – married Ian William Cochrane in 1954 – born in Virden, Manitoba

Working first at the Union Bank of Canada and later the Royal Bank of Canada, Sandy worked in rural communities in Manitoba before relocating to Dryden, Ontario. While working at the bank, he and his family lived in an apartment over the bank itself. The family also acquired and enjoyed a summer property on Thunder Lake, a few miles east of Dryden.

According to the 1931 census, the family was established in Dryden in 1931. Sandy’s occupation is noted as “manager” and his income $3,000.00.

Sandy’s son Russell was killed in a training accident in December 1943. This tragic incident had a profound impact on the family, and many mementoes of Russell’s were passed down.

On the 1949 and 1953 list of electors, he is referred to as “gentleman” – presumably this means he had retired by then (as other men on the election list had the same designation).

Sandy and Lorraine lived in Dryden for several years following his retirement from the Royal Bank but eventually moved to Winnipeg when a house came up for sale across the street from their daughter’s family (3140 Vialoux Drive).

Sandy smoked for most of his adult life – mostly a pipe and small cigars.

Sandy continued to drive into his early 80s but was bedridden for the last year of so of his life. He died at home on September 29, 1971, at the age of 86. Lorraine lived for 28 years longer, passing away in 1999 (at the remarkable age of 104).