William Henderson

William Henderson (February 26, 1837 – September 24, 1931) was a Scottish-born architect who mainly worked in Canada. He was the Resident Architect for the Department of Public Works in British Columbia.

Life and career Henderson was born in Lonmay, Aberdeenshire, to a family of architects. He became a stone cutter at the age of 13, and in 1857, he emigrated to Canada. In 1861 he moved back to Scotland, where he married his first wife, Mary Jane Smith. During this time, he completed independent commissions for new buildings in Regina and Qu'Appelle. In 1896 he was appointed Resident Architect for the Territories and, in June 1897, became Resident Architect for the Dept. of Public Works for British Columbia. This position meant he was responsible as site supervisor for all federal buildings being built in the province. He held that position until he retired in 1925.

In public life, he was an alderman at Oak Bay from 1906–08 and later a reeve. Henderson Hall and Henderson road in Oak Bay were both named for him.

Structures

Independent

Government + Location Building Date William Head Quarantine Station 1905 Osoyoos Customs house 1906-07 Victoria Detention Building 1907-08 Revelstoke Post Office and Government Offices 1911 Duncan Post Office and Indian Affairs Building 1912-13 Union Bay Dominion Public Building 1913 Port Alberni Dominion Public Building 1914-1915