SASKATCHEWAN AND ITS PEOPLE
1924

         HON. WILLIAM FERDINAND ALPHONSE TURGEON.  
 
  The Hon. William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon, K. C., B. A., LL. D.,
Regina, entered upon his duties as Judge of the Court of Appeals for
Saskatchewan on the 14th of March, 1921. Prior to his elevation to the
bench he had been Attorney-General of the province since 1907 and had
enjoyed a long and important connection with political affairs as a mem-
ber of the Liberal party. As a result of this long public career he was
widely known and enjoyed to a marked degree the confidence of the
members of his party and the people as a whole, who recognized in him
a man of outstanding ability and tried integrity, and thus considered
his position in the judiciary commensurate with his powers and quali-
fications.
  William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon was born on June 3, 1877, near
Bathurst, New Brunswick, the son of Onesiphore Turgeon, a French-
Cannadian, and his wife, who came from an English Canadian family by
the name of Baldwin. He was educated in New York city and Laval Uni-
versity, from which he graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree. By
profession he is a barrister and was made Attorney-General for Sas-
ketchewan on the 24th of September, 1907, when he was scarcely past the
Thirtieth anniversary of his birth and held that position until he entered
upon his judicial duties. Meanwhile, he was very active 3[n Liberal politics
in the province and a frequent candidate for election to the provincial
legislature. At a by-election held for Prince Albert on October 12, 1907,
he was the successful contestant, but in the general election on August
14 of the following year, he was defeated in that constituency.  On the
same date he was elected for Duck Lake, and on July 11, 1912, was elected
at Humboldt.  He was reelected in the general election of 1917 by the
same constituency and sat in the House until his elevation to the Bench.
While Mr. Turgeon has always been a loyal supporter of his party, he
has never been guilty of sacrificing the public good to party expediency
and has always well represented the interests of his constituents. That
his course in the House has been one that met with the favor of the people
who elected him is abundantly demonstrated by his frequent reelections.
No question has ever been raised as to the quality of his legal learning
and ability as a barrister, which are of a high order. His friends have
felt for many years that he possessed the judicial temperament and was
therefore well suited to a position on the bench. His appointment to his
present position was, consequently, one that brought them much pleasure
and gratification.  Nor have they been disappointed.  Judge Turgeon's
course has been marked by a becoming dignity and a comprehension of
the points involved in the cases tried before him, that has reflected great
credit upon him and upon the Bench.
   On the 18th of February, 1901, Mr. Turgeon was married to Miss
Gertrude Boudreau, daughter of Jerome Boudreau of Petit Rocher, New
Brunswick. Mr. and Mrs. Turgeon are the parents of five children: Alice,
Cecile, Wilfrid, Eveline and Regis. The religious faith of the family is
that of the Roman Catholic church.
         
         

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