Edmund H. Oliver

Edmund Henry Oliver (1882–1935) was a Canadian minister of the Presbyterian Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada, a chaplain and an educator. He played an integral role in the founding of St. Andrew's College, Saskatoon in 1912 – then known as the Presbyterian Theological College – and served as its first president. Oliver also served as the 4th Moderator of the United Church of Canada.

Early life and education Oliver was born in Eberts, Ontario in 1882. He attended a primary country school, then entered Chatham Collegiate Institute in 1893, age 11. He excelled academically, winning prizes every year as first in his class. Before graduating in 1898, he led the entire province of Ontario in classics and mathematics, winning several scholarships and a gold medal for scholastic achievement.

Oliver enrolled in the University of Toronto and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1902, winning the McCaul Gold Medal in classics. He was immediately appointed instructor in Greek, and an Alexander Mackenzie Fellow in political science, while earning his Master's degree at the same time. where he helped to found the Presbyterian Theological College — now St. Andrew's College. He was appointed in 1913 by the Presbyterian General Assembly of Canada to serve as the first principal of the new college. Oliver was deeply committed to the integration of theological education into the broader academic environment and post-secondary community. Under his leadership, the new college began plans to build and move into a new location right on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

Following the formation of the United Church of Canada in 1925, Oliver remained an important voice in the new church, and in 1930, at the 4th General Conference of the church in London, Ontario, he was elected to be the 4th Moderator, a role he served from 1930–1932.

Oliver saw his life work as one of service on the new frontiers of Canada, and during his time as Moderator, he lived into that, travelling across the country during The Great Depression, urging people to donate clothing and food to those who needed it.

Death Only three years after his term as Moderator ended, Oliver died at the age of 53 while working with youth at a summer camp.