About the Hatheway Trust

Warren Franklin Hatheway was born in Saint John on September 16, 1850. When he passed away on October 30, 1923, he was described in his obituary as “a strong supporter of labour.” Frank Hatheway was that and much more.

He owned a wholesale grocery business, which became very successful. He served for two terms (1894,1895) as president of the Saint John Board of Trade and was one of Saint John’s leading citizens. He was a Conservative member of the provincial legislature (1908-1912), yet he never wavered in his support for the working class. “You forget your strongest weapon—the ballot,” he wrote in 1906, “You men of labour belong to the first order…of labour from which all wealth and art evolve, see to it that you advance with the time, that you get the share of life and liberty due to every decent man, and do not allow yourselves to be thrust back into tireless rounds of unending work by the ruthless hand of the millionaire.”

Hatheway was a member of the Fabian League of Saint John, a socialist organization. He fought for legislation to regulate the conditions in New Brunswick factories and was finally successful in having the government pass the Factory Act. He was successful in his fight to have Workers Compensation introduced in New Brunswick. As a result, it was commonly referred to as “The Hatheway Act.”

In 1918 Hatheway deeded 73 acres of land in the Milldgeville area to the labour people of the city. This generous endowment was granted with the stated purpose: “The primary object of this Trust is the establishment of a labour park…for the recreation and educational and moral improvements of the members of labour unions their families and friends.” Unfortunately, the labour park was never built. In the 1980’s the land was sold and the money from the sale was placed in “The Hatheway Trust.” The Trust is administered by representatives of the Saint John District Labour Council and the Saint John Building and Construction Trades.

In 2006, the Hatheway Trust formed a partnership with the Saint John Horticultural Association with the stated purpose of restoring the Lily Lake Pavilion. The Trust then agreed to invest a considerable sum of money into the restoration. This was done on the understanding that the name of the pavilion would become the W. Frank Hatheway Lily Lake Pavilion. Further, part of the building would become the W. Frank Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre. The Labour Exhibit Centre is now a reality where the history of labour is on display. Although Hatheway’s dream of a labour park never materialized, he would be proud of what has been accomplished as a result of the endowment he left for the working people of Saint John. The Hatheway Board of Trustee members are solely responsible for the maintenance and improvements of the W. Frank Hatheway Labour Exhibit Centre and also serve on the Board of Directors of LLP Inc.

 Board of Trustees of The Hatheway Trust

Patrick Riley—Chairman

Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald—Vice-Chairman

George Vair—Secretary

Brenda Dunn—Treasurer

Thomas Tracey—Sgt-at-Arms

Ronald Dow—Member

Michael Duncan—Member

William Farren—Member

Robert Frawley—Member

David Gregg—Member

Chuck Hickey—Member

Paul Maxwell—Member

James Stanley—Member

Dawn Robichaud—Member