Fonds Add. MSS. 1381 - Evelyn MacKechnie fonds

Evelyn Catherine (nee Simpson) MacKechnie was born in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, on October 15, 1906. After moving to British Columbia with her parents, she lived as a child on a farm in Burnaby. She graduated from the old King Edward High School in Vancouver, attended Normal School, and taught in Vancouver until the age of 21. In 1932 she graduated from nurses' training at Vancouver General Hospital and became a social worker, spending much of her time working around the Water Street area. In 1939 Evelyn married Dr. Hugh Alexander MacKechnie; they had one daughter and one son. Mrs. MacKechnie was actively involved in a number of community organizations including Parent Teacher Associations, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Georgian Club, and the Vancouver Community Arts Council. Starting in the late 1960s, Mrs. MacKechnie was a leader in the Gastown revitalization movement through her role as Chair of the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee, a subcommittee of the Vancouver Community Arts Council's Civic Arts Committee. As well, she served as Chairman of the Save the Entrance to Stanley Park Committee, which campaigned against proposed development of the site by Four Seasons Developments. Mrs. MacKechnie passed away in Vancouver, on September 18, 1998.