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Selwyn Gwillym Blaylock
Recognition of his contribution and stature in the industry was
dramatized in 1948 by the creation of the Selwyn G. Blaylock Medal,
awarded annually by The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Born in 1879 in the small Quebec town of Paspebiac, Mr. Blaylock
attended Bishop's College School in Lennoxville, Quebec and in
1899 was graduated from McGill University with a bachelor of science
degree.
From that time onwards, Mr. Blaylock was a Westerner. He went
to British Columbia in 1899 and worked there as a surveyor for
the Canadian Smelting Works in Trail, B.C. Two years later, he
became the company's chief chemist. In 1906 the company became
Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. of Canada. From chief chemist
and metallurgist, he became general superintendent of the Hall
Mines Smelter at Nelson, B.C., then general superintendent of
the St. Eugene mines. He recommended purchase of the Sullivan
mine and took responsibility for its development. In 1919, he became
the company's general manager, a director in 1922, vice-president
in 1927, managing director in 1938 and president in 1939.
In his rise to the pinnacle of Cominco, his interest in the welfare
of the employees never slackened. His stated belief, "...security,
comfort and welfare of workmen will be paid for in increased efficiency
and good will of employees..." became a benchmark in Canadian
industrial relations circles. In part, at least, the Trail Smoke
Eaters who twice carried Canada's hockey colours to a world amateur
championship, were a reflection of his philosophy of human relations
in a mining community.
Recognition and honors for his work in his profession came to
him in abundance. He received the highest award of the time, the
Gold Medal of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy of Great
Britain in 1944. Other awards included the McCharles Prize for
outstanding work in Canadian Metallurgy from the University of
Toronto; the James Douglas Medal for Metallurgy awarded to him
in 1928 by the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgy; the
Inco Medal awarded by The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
in 1935 for outstanding work in mining and smelting. He was awarded
honorary degrees from McGill University and the University of
Alberta, and was a director of a number of companies. A long-time
member of The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, he
served as its President in 1934-35.
Selwyn Blaylock went to B.C. and the predecessor of Consolidated
Mining & Smelting when both the country and the company were
young and feeling their way into a future that included a depression
and two world wars. All three made excessive demands on the abilities
of people in such key industries as metal production and fabrication.
Selwyn G. Blaylock accepted all challenges, met all challenges,
contributed vastly to the body of knowledge of his profession
and remained a caring man of modesty and integrity. He died in
Trail November 19, 1945 and was buried at Danville, Quebec.
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Selwyn G. Blaylock devoted a working lifetime to mines and minerals
and left a number of monuments to his effectiveness including: