William Wallace Cory

Who was William Wallace Cory?

William Wallace Cory was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from June 27, 1919 to February 17, 1931.

Only the second Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to take the post, Cory inherited a region that had barely been governed during the time of his predecessor.

Within months the new Commissioner had enacted a new ordinance regarding entry into the Northwest Territories, restricting access only to those pre-approved by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at various outposts in Alberta or the Yukon. The ordinance was cancelled a year later having been deemed ultra vires however during his office Commissioner Cory pursued further administration of the Territories, overseeing the appointment of councillors for the first time and establishing operations to facilitate the expansion of oil and gas interests in the region including the opening of the Territories' administration offices at Fort Smith in 1921.