Journalist.
Born on a farm near Bronte, Ontario on 11 February 1873, son of Thomas Nichols and Elizabeth Graham White, he began a career in journalism as proofreader for the Toronto Telegram. He became a reporter for the paper then, in 1897, its parliamentary correspondent at Ottawa. He then served successively as Editor-Writer for the Toronto World (1903-1905), and President and Editor of the Winnipeg Telegram (1905-1913).
In 1907, he was among a group of journalists who formed the Western Associated Press, the first new cooperative in Canada, and was its first President. Ten years later, he was a founder of The Canadian Press, uniting four regional news association throughout Canada, and served for 15 years as one of its Directors. He also served as President (1931-1932) and Honorary President (1936-1939).
He left Winnipeg in 1913 to become President of the Montreal Daily Mail and The Daily News (1913-1917). He was head of the Department of Public Information at Ottawa during the last two years of the First World War. After retiring from that post, in 1920 he joined the Southam publishing organization as Vice-President and Managing Director of the Winnipeg Tribune, a position he held for 15 years. On leaving Winnipeg, he was Publisher of the Vancouver Province. He retired from active involvement in journalism in 1945 but remained a Director of the Southam Company.
In March 1905, he married Dora Beatrice Wood (1881-1958), daughter of New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor Josiah Wood. He was a member of the Manitoba Club, Adanac Club, and St. Charles Country Club.
He died at Vancouver, British Columbia on 1 May 1961.
The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.
“A great gentleman,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 December 1945, page 11.
Death registrations, British Columbia Vital Statistics.
“Famed journalist M. E. Nichols dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 May 1961, page 36.
“Pioneer publisher, M. E. Nichols dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 May 1961.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 2 January 2023
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