Canadian Business Leader, Senator, Philanthropist, and Education Advocate: The Honourable Norman McLeod Paterson
The Honourable Norman McLeod Paterson, KGStJ, DCL, LLD
August 3, 1883 – August 10, 1983 – Section 51 S Lot R
Norman McLeod Paterson was one of Canada’s most influential nation-builders of the 20th century - a visionary entrepreneur, dedicated public servant, and generous benefactor whose life spanned a full century of Canadian transformation.
Born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to Hugh Savigny Paterson and Ella Snider, Paterson entered the workforce early, joining the Manitoba Railway and Canal Company in 1897 at just 14 years old. He later served as a telegrapher and purchasing agent with the Great Northern Railway of Canada, gaining hands-on operational experience that would define his business approach.
In 1903, he joined his father in the grain trade and, by 1908, founded N.M. Paterson and Company. His strategic foresight and willingness to take risks laid the groundwork for a major expansion into shipping and infrastructure. He launched Paterson Steamships Limited, which alongside his grain operations, formed the backbone of what became N.M. Paterson and Sons Limited. Today, the company continues as Paterson GlobalFoods, a leading player in Canada’s agri-transport industry.
In 1915, Paterson married Eleanor Margaret Macdonald in Winnipeg. They had six children and settled into family life while he expanded his business empire. That same year, he acquired his first ship, the D.R. Van Allen, to move grain along the Great Lakes. His expansion was relentless, in the 1920s, he built a major grain terminal in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), and by the mid-1920s, he owned 97 grain elevators across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Despite the Great Depression, he defied economic trends in 1930 by adding a 1.7 million-bushel annex to his Fort William terminal.
During this period, Paterson also served as president or director of a range of businesses including:
- Kaministiquia Lumber Company
- Western Engineering Services
- Canadian General Insurance Company
- Traders' Building Association
- Royal Edward Hotel
- And was a major supporter of Ducks Unlimited Canada
He was a prominent figure in civic life as well an Honorary Life Member of the Manitoba Club, a Mason, and an active Presbyterian.
In 1940, Paterson was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, representing the division of Milton, Ontario, as a Liberal. He brought his business acumen and practical sensibilities to the Senate chamber, serving until 1981, just weeks before his 98th birthday, making him one of the longest-serving senators in Canadian history.
A committed philanthropist, Paterson’s impact on education was profound. In 1965, he donated $400,000 to establish the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University, helping shape Canada’s future diplomatic and public service leadership. That same year, he became the first Chancellor of Lakehead University, serving until 1971, and remained on the board of directors at Carleton University for many years. Paterson was named a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John (KGStJ) in 1945, recognizing his long-standing public and charitable service.
His commitment to community well-being extended into philanthropy with the founding of The Paterson Foundation in 1970, a private charitable organization that continues to support educational, healthcare, and community initiatives across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario.
Paterson passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Ottawa on August 10, 1983, just one week after celebrating his 100th birthday. His legacy endures through the institutions he helped build, the public policies he influenced, and the company and foundation that still bear his name.