A.H. Leech

Born near the home of the famous Wedgwood Pottery Ware, Staffordshire, England, on August l7th, 1892, Arthur H. Leech crossed the Atlantic with an uncle and aunt in April, 1911. He was the youngest of a family of seven.

With two sisters already settled in the Russell District, naturally his destination on arriving in Canada was the "Banner County" of Manitoba. The sisters refered to were Stirs. F. W. Lightfoot and Mrs. I. Skelding, both now deceased Another brother, aged 92, resides in New Westminster, B.C., who also for a brief period, resided in Russell.

Having had some minor experience at. the printing trade with a relative, ''Art" Leech, shortly after arrival, became protege of the editor of the Russell Banor, Mr. J Joseph McIntyre. With the exception of a break with the First Canadian Division in World War I he remained in the Russell publishing office until 1923, when he left to gain further experience at his chosen profession.

In 1922 he married Jessie Gertrude, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Simms and raised two children: a son, Lorne Arthur of St Vital, Manitoba, and a daughter, Marlene Priscilla (Mrs. F. J. Dickson, Calgary, Alberta ) . There are seven grandchildren.

After considerable experience on Winnipeg's two daily newspapers, in Edmonton, North Battleford and numerous other fields, the time arrived when he decided to launch into business for himself. In 1931 he founded Lance Publishing Company Ltd. in St Vital, Manitoba, a business that grew into a major development over a period of thirty-three years. His weekly newspaper, the Lance, won many Provincial and Dominion Trophies for its excellence.

During his business career he served for a number of years in municipal affairs as alderman, reeve ands prior to his resignation, as St. Vital's first mayor. He retired from business in 1961 and transferred control of Lance Publishing Company Limited to his son, Lorne.

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