George Albert Warrington

(1887.09.05-1979.12.20)
B.A.Sc., MLS, DLS, SLS
Commission #064
(1915.09.13)

George was born to William and Jemima Warrington on September 5, 1887 in Cornwall, Ontario.

“G.A. Warrington, alias “Buck,” first disturbed this planet in the notorious little town of Cornwall. There he was well prepared for the various phases of a strenuous college life. He joined the class of 1910 and we soon learned to appreciate his weight and humor. Never did he fail “to be on the job” to sustain his weaker and sometimes helpless friends, whether at excursions, hustles or elections. He gave his muscular bulk to our rugby team and of course there was nothing to it but “to win” with a good “Buck” on the line. No matter how brilliant Buck’s future may be he will never do better than his fellows wish, for “He was a jolly good fellow.”

George graduated from the School of Practical Science, 1910 and received his B.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto in 1911 and moved to Winnipeg in the employment of the Manitoba government.

He received his DLS and MLS commissions in 1913 and his SLS commission in 1915. All his DLS (CLS) work was done in Manitoba and didn’t register a plan in Saskatchewan.

“Manitoba Police Confronted With Unusual Snag in Murder” was the headline in the Saturday issue of the Winnipeg Free Press on July 10, 1937. Two Manitoba farmers (neighbours), who farmed adjacent to the US Border, were arguing over some hay which led to one of the two shooting the other in the leg and due to blood loss and shock, ended up dying. It was a pretty straightforward murder case until it was pointed out that there was the possibility that the shooting occurred on US soil. “Confronted with one of the most amazing technical circumstances in Canadian criminal history, Manitoba Police authorities, Friday, were reconstructing a fatal shooting almost on the United States boundary in an attempt to determine the exact spot of the murder.”  When you have a question with respect to boundaries, you call in a surveyor. George was called in and prepared plans based on witness information and measurements taken afterwards. George’s plans and testimony showed that the victim and the shooter were approximately 35 feet across the border into the United States. George’s testimony and plans resulted in the shooter being extradited to the United States to stand trial for murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

George worked with the government until his retirement in 1953. He was Chief Surveyor with the Department of Public Works for at least twenty years.

In 1958 George moved to Mississauga.

George was married to Florence Caroline Gamble and they had three daughters. George passed away in Mississauga on December 20, 1979.

Prepared by M. L. J. Waschuk, SLS, P. Surv., 2018

Sources: Library and Archives Canada; NRCan; Al Jensen-Controller of Surveys; ISC; Ancestry.com; Jim Watling, MLS; NewspaperArchives.com; University of Toronto Publications; SLSA; Winnipeg Free Press; Carl Shiels