Cowan, David Lacy | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

COWAN, David Lacy (1910-1944), son of William A. Cowan, was born in Guelph, Ont. on 3 November 1910 and briefly attended the University of Toronto, then moved to Winnipeg where he graduated from the School of Architecture at the University of Manitoba in 1934. From March 1935 he worked as a draftsman for the Toronto firm of Vaux Chadwick & Bryan Chadwick, serving as their local site superintendent for construction of the Dominion Public Building, Upper Wyndham Street, Guelph, Ont. 1935. Under his own name, he designed the Royal Dairy Co., Paisley Street at Norfolk Street, GUELPH, ONT., c. 1938; demol. Cowan continued to practise in Guelph until early 1941 when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers in early 1941. He served overseas during WWII but was killed in action near Antwerp, Belgium on 2 October 1944 and was later buried at the Canadian War Cemetery at Adegem (obit. Globe & Mail [Toronto], 14 Oct. 1944, 2; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects; inf. Josine Cowan)