Logo designer passes
- Details
- Published on Friday, May 27, 2016
By Jessie Bell
Submitted
Alex Matheson was stationed at the military base near Rivers in 1949; the young airman was a parachute instructor. He also had a flare for art, which was evident when a new logo appeared on The Gazette on Dec. 1, 1949. Publisher Graham Barker offered no explanation as to its origin but after Larry and Jessie Bell bought the paper in June 1956, they contacted Alex for an explanation of his work, which Barker commissioned.
Alex’s design represents CN Railway, formerly Grand Trunk Pacific (GTP) for which Rivers was named in 1908; GTP president was Sir Charles Rivers Wilson. An airplane and hangar denotes the existence of Canadian Joint Air Training Centre (later, Rivers airbase) and a sheaf of wheat is a symbol of this agricultural area. Alex won high marks from Manitoba Design Institute for the logo and the province of Manitoba also honoured his work, which appeared on the front page of every newspaper until June 1993. When Rivers’ newspaper celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008, the logo was altered slightly and has once again appeared on the front page of every issue for the last eight years.
Alex was always a welcome guest in Alex Whyte’s Sod Buster concerts, where he jazzed up his bagpipes, dressed in Scottish attire and sat on a stool to see if he could jokingly embarrass the lassies as to what was worn under the kilt. Both Alexes provided many hours of musical enjoyment in Rivers. Alex Matheson passed away earlier this month in Brandon; the 91-year-old died on May 16.
He was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. and was active in sports, excelling in swimming, soccer and lacrosse in his youth. He served in the Armed Forces for 33 years as a pilot, parachute instructor and officer in the Royal Canadian Dragoons; Alex retired in 1975 with the rank of colonel, as base commander of CFB Shilo. Following retirement he spent 10 years as an illustrator employee at Assiniboine Community College. He was also a painter and made personalized cards for family and friends and was an active member of Brandon’s calligraphy club. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer Society of Manitoba (4B-457-9th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 1K2), Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation (150 McTavish Ave. East, R7A 2B3) or Commonwealth Air Training Museum (Box 3, Grp. 520, RR 5, R7A 5Y5). Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.
