Event Date : Friday, June 17, 1955
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Calgary, Alta.

Description : A West Gwillimbury Township son, and a brother of the Township's Reeve, Dr. Ernest R. Selby passed away at his home in Calgary on Friday last, June 17. Dr. Selby had not been well during the past several months, due to a heart condition, and the message informing his family here of his death was not entirely unexpected. Born on the Selby farm, lot 12,
Concession 9, West Gwillimbury, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Selby, Dr. Selby attended Bowles' school and Bradford High School before taking his medical course at Toronto University. After his graduation he specialized at Gravenhurst Sanitorium, St. Louis, and at the Mount Royal Hospital in Montreal, before going to Calgary where he established a practice. He was in Calgary about two years when early in the First Great War, 1914-1918, he offered his services to his country. At that time western Canada units were not being recruited and Dr. Selby came east and signed as a medical officer. During his term of military service he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and also won several medals for distinctive service. The was over he returned to Calgary and about two years later he married Laura McQueen of that city, who survives him, with their two sons, Dr. Raymond Selby and Bill Selby, both of Calgary. Also surviving are two brothers, Percy and Cyril Selby, both of Bradford; and three sisters, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw (Mary) of Bradford, Miss Lena Selby, R.N., of Asbury Park, N.J., and Mrs. George Thomas (Stella) of Orange, N.J. Dr. Selby was a member of the Anglican church. He was a Mason, having joined Simcoe Masonic Lodge, No. 79, Bradford, before going to western Canada. He took much interest in the St. John's Ambulance Corps and had an outstanding record in instructing for this Corps. The funeral was from his home in Calgary with interment in that city.

Audio and summary of an interview with Dr. William C. Little. He is being interviewed by Jack Coleman and Norbert Moran at the Simcoe County Archives. The interview talks about his family's history, his path to becoming a doctor, working in Camp Borden during World War Two, working with veterans and his career after the war. See the Related Descriptions below for links to audio and summary.