Person

Hawkins, Arthur Charles

1861-1926

Arthur Charles Hawkins was a physician and mayor of Halifax during the 1918 influenza pandemic, and is credited with being a key influence in keeping Nova Scotia's death rate comparably low. The son of Charles A. Hawkins and Charlotte (Simpson) Hawkins, he was born at Avondale (Newport Landing), Nova Scotia, in 1861. He attended Halifax Medical College and Dalhousie, completing his studies at McGill University, where he obtained his MD in 1885. He settled in Halifax and was appointed house surgeon at the Provincial and City Hospital by the Commission of Public Charities from 1885-1886. He later served as coroner for Halifax County and held positions as medical officer with the Immigration Branch of the Department of the Interior and attending surgeon at Victoria General Hospital. Hawkins was a Halifax City alderman for ward six from 1897-1908. He lost the election for mayor in 1908, but was returned to Council as alderman for ward five from 1911-1913. In 1918-1919 he was mayor of Halifax, but was defeated in the 1919 election and again in the mayoralty election of 1920. A former Liberal Party supporter, he ran unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in the 1921 federal election in Halifax. Hawkins was active in public health, as well as community organizations aimed at helping the poor. He opened his home to assist victims of the Halifax Explosion in 1917. He was married to Caroline (Cassie) McLelan Spike, with whom he had six children: Gertrude (Dolly), Rupert, Dorothy, Arthur, Mary Caroline (Carol), and James ("Pete"). Hawkins died on 19 March 1926.

CA NSA