Leader Spotlight: Florence McGillivray
The Early Years
Family of George and Caroline McGillivray Details
Florence Helena McGillivray was born March 1, 1864 at Clovendale Farm, Whitby Township. She was the tenth of thirteen children of George and Caroline (nee Fothergill) McGillivray.
George McGillivray immigrated to Quebec from Scotland in 1833. He settled in Whitby upon the reccommendation another Scottish immigrant, William Dow, owner of the Glen Dhu farm. George's father purchased 50 acres of land on lot 32 of Concession 3 in Whitby Township. This farm became known as Clovendale.
George McGillivray immigrated to Quebec from Scotland in 1833. He settled in Whitby upon the reccommendation another Scottish immigrant, William Dow, owner of the Glen Dhu farm. George's father purchased 50 acres of land on lot 32 of Concession 3 in Whitby Township. This farm became known as Clovendale.
Inverlynn, residence of the McGillivray Family Details
George and Caroline married at Pickering Township on March 17, 1846. They lived for many years at a farm called Burnside in Pickering Township before moving to Clovendale in 1860. In 1870, the family moved to Inverlynn, a palatial home within the Town of Whitby. The property included hundreds of acres of farmland, the winding Lynde Creek, and a pine grove.
The thirteen McGillivray children attended the Whitby Grammar School which was located on Colborne Street between King and Centre Streets. It later became known as the Whitby Collegiate Institute. While there, Florence taught art to her fellow classmates. She also received lessons from Edward Scrope Shrapnel, a Canadian artist known for his work in watercolour and art teacher at the Ontario Ladies' College.
Back at Inverlynn, Florence recalled in a letter to friend and former student, Rosa Clark, that she started to paint around ages 6 to 8. To compensate for the lack of coloured paints, she used bluing soap for many of her early works so that all her pictures were made blue. She painted on canvas, paper, glass, wood, and china. During Florence's childhood, she regularly entered her artwork at local fairs. In 1881, she won two first-prize awards for her watercolour paintings at the Bowmanville country fair. She spent her prize winnings on art lessons.
The thirteen McGillivray children attended the Whitby Grammar School which was located on Colborne Street between King and Centre Streets. It later became known as the Whitby Collegiate Institute. While there, Florence taught art to her fellow classmates. She also received lessons from Edward Scrope Shrapnel, a Canadian artist known for his work in watercolour and art teacher at the Ontario Ladies' College.
Back at Inverlynn, Florence recalled in a letter to friend and former student, Rosa Clark, that she started to paint around ages 6 to 8. To compensate for the lack of coloured paints, she used bluing soap for many of her early works so that all her pictures were made blue. She painted on canvas, paper, glass, wood, and china. During Florence's childhood, she regularly entered her artwork at local fairs. In 1881, she won two first-prize awards for her watercolour paintings at the Bowmanville country fair. She spent her prize winnings on art lessons.
