Gilbert Monture

Who was Gilbert Monture?

Gilbert Clarence Monture, OC OBE was a Canadian civil servant.

A Mohawk born on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Brant County, Ontario and the great grandson of Joseph Brant, Monture served with the Royal Canadian Field Artillery as a gunner during World War I. After the war, he received Bachelor of Science degree in Mining and Metallurgy from Queen's University in 1921.

Joining the Canadian civil service in 1923, he was an editor of publications for the Department of Mines and Resources and in 1929 became chief of the Mineral Resources Division, Department of Mines and Technical Surveys. During World War II, he worked in the Department of Munitions and Supply. In 1946, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his work with the Board.

He resigned from the civil service in 1956 and became Vice-President of Stratmat, Canadian mineral exploration company.

He was a member of the Board of Governors of Trent University from 1966 to 1973.

In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1958, he was appointed an honorary chief of the Mohawk tribe of the Six Nations Reserve. He is a member of Canada's Indian Hall of Fame. In 1966, he was awarded the Vanier Medal, awarded to "a person who has shown distinctive leadership and accomplishment in Canadian public service". He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario.