1

In early years of the North-West Territories, buildings such as courthouses were symbols of stability and sustainability and were fundamental to the infrastructure of a community. The Wolseley Courthouse is no exception. Being one of the first buildings in the community, the courthouse represents the institutional foundation upon which the Champions of Justice were able to enact and enforce judicial law and order in the west, a so-called frontier region, which reflected nationalistic interests during the late colonial period.

2

Hon. William Dell Perley & the Courthouse
February 1896

Credits:
Topley Studio. Library and Archives Canada. PA-027744.

3

The construction of the courthouse in Wolseley in 1895 marked a period of growth and development in the community. In 1898, three years after its completion, Wolseley was incorporated as a town , due, perhaps, to the courthouse, which acted as a catalyst for future institutional and structural projects.

4

"His Honor Banquetted." Article on the incorporation banquet of the Town of Wolseley
22 December 1898

Credits:
SAB. Regina Leader. December 22, 1898.

5

Though Wolseley benefitted immensely from the construction of the courthouse, its construction was the subject of much controversy. From 1888, when it was rumoured the community wanted to establish the courthouse, to the official announcement and acceptance of tenders in 1893 and its grand opening in 1895, the courthouse was the subject of much criticism and scorn from the surrounding communities. Such scorn was directed almost entirely at Senator William Dell Perley.

Senator Perley, one of the original men who founded Wolseley as a municipality in 1884, contributed to the early political landscape of the North-West Territories. In 1885, he, along with Frederick Haultain and the rest of the North-West Territorial Council, presented a "Bill of Rights" to the federal government, which demanded responsible government for the region. In 1887, Perley was elected as a Conservative to the House of Commons for East Assiniboia, and in 1889, he accepted an appointment to the Senate, a position he served in until his death in 1909.

6

"The Grenfell Conservatives." Letter from the Grenfell Liberal-Conservative Association
3 August 1893

Credits:
SAB. Moosomin Spectator. August 3, 1893.

7

It was Perley's influence in the government at the time that some individuals found so undesirable, with R.S. Lake, the president of the then disbanded Grenfell Liberal-Conservative Association, accusing him of "put[ting] aside entirely the question of what is best for the people of the country… and treat[ing] the whole affair as a matter of Government 'patronage' or 'favour' to be bestowed on towns or individuals, forgetting that the Government are the servants of the people and selected by them, and sent to Ottawa to mete out justice and fairness to all". Perley, however, argued otherwise, stating that Lieutenant-Governor Edgar Dewdney "located the court in Wolseley on merit alone", and that "there were no election influences to bias his judgment".

8

Order-in-Council on the acceptance of the tender of E.A. Banbury and R.A. Magee [page 1 of 2]
30 September 1893

Credits:
LAC. RG2, Privy Council Office, Series A-1-a, For Order in Council see volume 631, Reel C-3614.
Reproduction is a copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada and has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.

9

In September 1893, shortly after this heated exchange, the federal government awarded the contract for the construction of the courthouse to R.A. Magee and E.A. Banbury, who tendered construction costs at $5000, which was the exact amount put forward by Parliament before the call for tenders. One could speculate that Perley may have had a hand in suggesting that $5000 be the tender amount to Magee and Banbury, for Banbury was married to Edith Elizabeth Perley, one of Perley's daughters. Moreover, Banbury was the co-founder and co-owner of Beaver Lumber, while Magee was the owner of the local brickyard, which would supply the bulk of the building materials for construction.

10

Order-in-Council on the acceptance of the tender of E.A. Banbury and R.A. Magee [page 2 of 2]
30 September 1893

Credits:
LAC. RG2, Privy Council Office, Series A-1-a, For Order in Council see volume 631, Reel C-3614.
Reproduction is a copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada and has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.

11

Construction began on the courthouse in May 1894 , and was completed in October 1895 at a cost of $8349.77. The grand opening was scheduled for October 8, 1895, and was orchestrated by Perley as a "Grand Political Rally… in the interests of the Liberal-Conservative party". Newspapers again found fault in Perley's use of his political associations with the opening of the courthouse. The Qu'Appelle Vidette asserted, "[it] is a most lamentable want of taste, indeed, of common decency to associate the opening of a hall of justice with a party round up". In the eyes of the local newspapers, Perley's use of political patronage exposed itself in this political rally.

12

Speech outlining the costs of the Wolseley Courthouse
16 March 1896

Credits:
Official report of the debates of the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada : sixth session, seventh Parliament ... comprising the period from the sixteenth day of March to the twenty-third day of April inclusive.
CIHM 9_07186_14_2, from Early Canadiana Online, produced by Canadiana.org.

13

Despite this criticism, Perley thought nothing of it, arguing that "he thought it more commendable to open such a splendid building with a discussion of public affairs than with a trial". Indeed, Perley's political rally captured the multi-purpose nature of the building, which held, in addition to trials and political meetings, picnics, concerts, parties, and banquets between 1895 and 1909. Although mired in controversy, Senator Perley established a judicial building
for the North-West Territories that also housed social and cultural events, and where the Champions of Justice would enact law and order.

14

Article on the opening of the courthouse in the Qu'Appelle Vidette
10 October 1895

Credits:
SAB. Qu’Appelle Vidette. October 10, 1895.