BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Dr. Donald McIntosh Flather

March 8 1903 - September 29 1990

Federation of Canadian Artists (Founding Member 1941, National Treasurer)
B.C. Academy of Science (Member)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (Member)
Potter's Guild of Canada (Member)
Vancouver East Lions (Director)
Vancouver East YMCA (Director)



Portrait of Donald Flather, 1955
Courtesy King George Secondary School Archives

Dr. Donald M. Flather was born in London, England. He came to Canada in 1911 with his mother and sister. They moved to the Shuswap Lake area of BC, then Flather moved to Vancouver where he graduated from U.B.C. with a B.A. in 1925 and a M.A. in 1939.

He married Grace Mary Wray on October 4 1930. Both he and his wife were listed as Teachers on the marriage certificate. Flather taught for the Vancouver School Board. He was teaching at Britannia High School while working on his Ph.D., which he received from the University of Washington in 1950, in Botany and Education. In 1951 he was promoted to Vice-Principal at King George High School.

He exhibited at the Vancouver Art Gallery in the annual B.C. Artists exhibitions from 1944 to 1950.

 
Paintings by Donald Flather, courtesy King George Secondary School

Flather died in Vancouver in 1990 at the age of 87, survived by his wife. His occupation was noted as "Retired - Philosophy, Educational."

The website listed below includes biographical information about Flather and his family, examples of his artwork, and a list of exhibitions and publications.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION LOCATION
1991 Mar. 21 - April 18 Solo exhibition (40 paintings) N Van Court House/City Hall
1997 June 29 - July 30 Solo exhibition (25 paintings) The Plaza Galleries
1998 Jan. 5 - Feb. 1 Canada's Majestic Seasons W Van Public Library
2005 Dec. 2 - 11 Donald M. Flather - A Solo Exhibition Petley-Jones Gallery
2008 Sept. - Oct. Landscapes Across Canada Centennial Theatre, N Van

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1944 Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 VAG   B.C. Artists 13th Annual Prelude to Winter
1945 Sept. 22 - Oct. 21 VAG   B.C. Artists 14th Annual Forest Trail
Autumn Dogwood
1946 Sept. 21 - Oct. 13 VAG   B.C. Artists 15th Annual Winter Storm (Marvel Lake)
Silver Forest (Mt. Rainier)
1946 ? - ? VAG    Selections from 15th BCA Winter Storm (Marvel Lake)
1947 Sept. 20 - Oct. 12 VAG   B.C. Artists 16th Annual East Wind (Sharpe Pt., Ladysmith Harbour)
1948 Sept. 18 - Oct. 10 VAG   B.C. Artists 17th Annual The Lonely Miles, (Trapline) Mt. Pokiashim
Ridge to Mt. Garibaldi
1949 Oct. 8 - 30 VAG   B.C. Artists 18th Annual Vistangulata
Vase for Pink Flowers
1950 Nov. 28 - Dec. 17 VAG   B.C. Artists 19th Annual Glacial Lake

References

B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE marriage, death (refer to BCVS)

www.donaldflather.com

Biographical file compiled by Jim Bradbury, King George High School Archivist

Clippings

B.C. School of Pharmacy and Science (list of graduates)
       Vancouver Sun, July 25 1924 page 5

B.C. School of Pharmacy and Science (list of graduates)
       Vancouver Sun, July 24 1925 page 14

Donald M. Flather (article about receiving Ph.D.)
       Vancouver Province, June 16 1950 page 19

(article about receiving Ph.D.)
       Vancouver Sun, June 16 1950 page 21

Calling all m'B'wanas! (article about seeking animals for biology class)
       Vancouver Province, November 18 1950 page 18

(notice of appointment to King George High School)
       Vancouver Sun, May 8 1951 page 21

Eye to Better Futures (article about night school biology class)
       Vancouver Sun, September 19 1951 page 6

(article about Victory gardens)
       Vancouver Sun, March 27 1985 page 5

The Secret Life of Donald Flather by Daniel Wood
       Beautiful BC Magazine, Spring 1999

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