Richard Deans Waugh

Who was Richard Deans Waugh?

Richard Deans Waugh was a Canadian politician, the 23rd Mayor of Winnipeg in 1912 and again from 1915 to 1916.

Waugh was born in Melrose, Scotland and moved to Canada in 1881 initially working in a lawyer's office before he entered the real estate business. Melrose was among those who established the Winnipeg Real Estate Exchange.

His municipal political career included serving on city council, chairing the city's Parks Board from 1904 to 1908, then as Winnipeg's Controller from 1909 to 1911 before his first term as Mayor in 1912. He especially called for the development of municipal playgrounds while mayor.

Waugh was particularly noted for his participation in curling and served as president of the Manitoba Curling Association and Winnipeg's Granite Curling Club.

Following the Treaty of Versailles, Waugh became a member of the commission which oversaw the Saarland region while its coal resources were shipped to France. Waugh resigned from the Saarland Commission due to his disagreements with the group's activities.

Today, his name is commemorated in Winnipeg as Waugh Road.