H. T. Thrift

Henry Thomas Thrift (May 26, 1851 – February 23, 1946) was a pioneer settler of the Surrey, British Columbia area. A real estate agent and brick maker, he served on the Surrey City Council as a clerk for many years, and also briefly rose to the position of reeve.

Biography

Thrift was born at Farnborough, Hampshire, England in 1852. He served in the military at Hampshire. Thrift immigrated to Canada in 1874, following the death of his wife, whom he had three children with. He initially settled in Eastern Canada, but later travelled to California, and later British Columbia, travelling to Surrey for the first time in 1880. He settled in the area, Cloverdale (later to be incorporated with Surrey), as he stated, "the name Surrey sounded like home".

Thrift was active in the affairs of Surrey, British Columbia, serving as a municipal clerk for the town's council in 1883, and from 1886 to 1890. He was reeve of Surrey along with William Brown in 1891, serving until his resignation. He had helped develop the first school in Surrey in 1882, and played a role in requesting the land for Peace Arch Park in 1886. He was also a former Grand Master of the British Columbia Orange Lodge. He married Margaret McMenamy in 1877 and had nine children with her. He is buried at the Hazelmere Cemetery in Surrey.

Legacy

Thrift Avenue in White Rock is named in his honour, as well as H.T. Thrift Elementary School, in Surrey.