Paterson, Norman M., 1880-1983 : Norman M. Paterson was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba in 1883, the son of Hugh S. Paterson (died in 1936) and Ella Snider (died in 1942). He was educated in Portage Public Schools and at Wellesley School in Toronto, Ontario. At the age of 15, he began his career as a junior worker for the Manitoba Railway and Canal Company. In 1897, he joined the Great Northern Railway of Canada as a telegraph operator, and then being promoted to private secretary, then chief clerk and by the time he was 20 years of age, to the position of purchasing agent. He resigned in 1903. With his father he developed a keen interest in the grain business and, accordingly, went to work in the Winnipeg Grain Exchange in 1903.
In the winter of 1908, Paterson migrated to Fort William, Ontario (now Thunder Bay) and founded the company under the name of N.M. Paterson Co. On June 2, 1915, he married Eleanor Macdonald, the daughter of John M. MacDonald of Winnipeg, Manitoba. They had six children, Elizabeth, Donald S., John N., Mary, Nancy and Joan.
By 1940, N. M. Paterson Co. Limited had become one of the largest Canadian grain and steamship companies. He controlled and operated more than one hundred elevators in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, a five bushel terminal elevator at Fort William and thirty four lake vessels trading on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Paterson became President of N.M. Paterson & Sons and many others companies such as Kaministiquia Lumber Company, Western Engineering Services, Traders' Building Association, Chairman of Royal Edward Hotel, Director of Canadian General Insurance, Ducks Unlimited (Canada), etc.
In February 1940, Paterson was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie. He moved to Ottawa with his youngest children. He soon became involved in federal politics and community-based work in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and in the Northwestern Ontario. He made many contributions to the nation, notably by his war efforts during World War II and by his philanthropic activities. In 1951, a donation from Paterson established the Presbyterian Church Fund for Ministerial Assistance. He was a strong supporter of the creation of the Carleton University by financing programs, funding student awards and by establishing a graduate School of International Affairs for people preparing for careers in government, academic institutions, business, journalism and other fields. He also helped to build Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. He donated his home in Fort William (Thunder Bay) to McKellar Hospital and a medical treatment unit to the Port Arthur General Hospital. He made financial contributions to many other hospitals and social organizations such as the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, as well as the Orpheus Operatic Society. In 1970, he founded the Paterson Foundation, which makes grants available to charitable and non-profit organizations in the field of education, health care, religion, social welfare, culture areas and/or arts.
He was appointed member of the Board of Governors, Chancellor and Honorary chairman of Carleton University and Lakehead University. During his career, Norman M. Paterson was invested Officer, Commander and Knight of Brother of The Order of St. John. He received several honorary degrees from various Canadian universities. Senator Norman M. Paterson died on August 11, 1983 at the age of 100.
