STEPHENSON, George James (1878-1948) was active in Saskatchewan for more than thirty years. Born in South Shields, England in 1874, he was indentured to Benjamin F. Simpson, FRIBA at Newcastle-on-Tyne (in 1894-97), then worked as assistant to Frank W. Rich, FRIBA from 1897 to 1899. He opened an office there in 1899 and maintained a practice until 1904 when he emigrated to Canada with the Barr Colonists. He opened a small office at Battleford and Paynton, Sask. in late 1904, and opened a branch office in nearby North Battleford in 1910. He was joined by William H. Evans in 1911, and their firm added another partner, Edward Fillingham, in 1913. Their office was disbanded at the outbreak of WWI, when Stephenson enlisted with the Canadian Army and went overseas. Upon his return to Canada he worked in Regina at the office of the Provincial Architect, and was then appointed as Resident Architect for the federal Dept. of Public Works, overseeing the construction of federal buildings in that province from 1920 to 1933. Stephenson was then posted to Halifax, N.S. to hold the position of Resident Architect in Nova Scotia (R.A.I.C. Journal, x, July 1933, 136). He was forced to retire in 1942 due to ill health, and died in Saskatoon on 19 January 1948 (obituary Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 19 Jan. 1948, 6; obit. R.A.I.C. Journal, xxvi, Feb. 1948, 65; biography Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 19 June 1933, 2; and 20 May 1942, 3; biog. E.J. Gilbert, Up The Years with the Sask. Association of Architects, 1969, 15; inf. Saskatchewan Assoc. of Architects; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina). His successor to the post of District Resident Architect in Saskatoon was Robert F. Duke, who later became the City Architect for Edmonton, Alta.
G.J. STEPHENSON (works in North Battleford unless noted)
BRESAYLOR, SASK., Ste. Anne's Anglican Church, 1906; still standing 2015 (Bresaylor - Between the Battle and the North Saskatchewan Rivers 1882-1992, pub. 1992, 403, illus. & descrip.; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
HOTEL METROPOLE, King Street at First Avenue, for Coad & Graves, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 18 Oct. 1911, 58)
THEATRE, for W. Owens & Co., 1911 (C.R., xxv, 18 Oct. 1911, 55)
ROMAN CATHOLIC SEPARATE SCHOOL, York Street, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 18 Oct. 1911, 55)
SKATING ARENA, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 18 Oct. 1911, 55)
NOTRE DAME HOSPITAL, Charles Street near First Avenue, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 25 Oct. 1911, 59)
STEPHENSON & EVANS (works in North Battleford unless noted)
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Edward Street at Third Avenue, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 22 Nov. 1911, 59)
THEATRE, for the Thomas Theatre Syndicate, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 3 Jan. 1912, 64, t.c.)
GRAVES BLOCK, commercial block for George Graves, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 3 Jan. 1912, 66)
CONVEY & SALLOWS LTD., First Avenue near King Street, store, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 3 Jan. 1912, 66)
CLARK & TEE CO., First Avenue East near King Street, factory, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 24 Jan. 1912, 67)
ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Victoria Street at Third Avenue, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 27 March 1912, 66)
VICTORIA STREET, residence for Mayor James Griese, Victoria Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 27 March 1912, 67)
FOLEY & PICKEL BLOCK, King Street at First Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 27 March 1912, 69)
GRIESS & WOOD BLOCK, King Street near Railway Street, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 27 March 1912, 69)
STEPHENSON, EVANS & FILLINGHAM (works in North Battleford unless noted)
NORTH BATTLEFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL, 1912-13 (perspective drawing at SAB, GM R-A183; inf. Frank Korvemaker, Regina)
CONNAUGHT PUBLIC SCHOOL, 1913-14 (C.R., xxvii, 11 June 1913, 79; North Battleford News, 23 April 1914, 1, descrip.)
MEOTA, SASK., public school, 1914 (North Battleford News, 30 July 1914, 3, descrip.)
POST OFFICE, 1913 (Canada, Sessional Papers, 1915, Report of the Chief Architect, 54)
COMPETITIONS
NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASK., a large Public school, 1913. The firm of Stephenson, Evans & Fillingham was one of 23 architects who submitted an entry in this major architectural competition. They received both the First Prize of $500 and the commission, and the 4th Prize of $200 for another optional design (Edmonton Journal, 10 March 1913, 4).