Biography:

Dr. Harold Clarke Workman was born in Stratford, Ontario on the 7th of January, 1885.  Dr. Workman was the 5th of 8 children born to William Workman and the former Jane Clarke.  Dr. Workman’s father was a hardware merchant in Stratford and his siblings were; Elizabeth “Bessie” Workman, Charles Wasnidge Workman, Joseph Kent Workman, William Workman, Katherine Gowdey Workman, Thomas Ballantyne Workman (1889-1891) and Allan Metcalfe Workman.

Dr. Harold Clarke Workman attended public school in Stratford and completed one year at Stratford Collegiate Institute in 1899.  In the fall of that year he continued his education at Kingston Collegiate Institute graduating in 1902.  In the fall of 1902 he entered Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in the Arts-Medical Course.  According to the 1903-1904 Foster’s City Directory of Kingston, Dr. Workman resided at 336 Johnson Street in Kingston with his brother William and his mother Jane, who was widowed. Dr. Workman is listed as a student in that directory.   Dr. Workman received a B.A. in 1906 and he graduated M.D.,C.M. in 1909.  Dr. Workman travelled to England to do post-graduate studies in surgery at Oxford University.

Upon his return to Canada, Dr. Workman accepted a position as a physician with the Grand Trunk Railway.  By 1913, Dr. Workman was known to be practicing medicine in Dresden, Ontario.

Dr. Workman married Gertrude Delina Reeb in Port Colborne on the 16th of September, 1914. At the time of his marriage, Dr. Workman was living in Fordwich.   Mrs. Workman was born in Welland County on the 20th of September, 1886.  She was the 3rd of 6 daughters born to William John Eugene Reeb and the former Catharine Melissa Near.  At the time of her birth, her father was farming but subsequent census’ indicated that he moved on to working as a general labourer in a quarry and management after that.  Her siblings were; Della Irene Reeb, Jennie Alice Reeb, Charlotte Melissa Reeb, Amy “Ethel” Reeb and Anetta Vera May Reeb.

Dr. and Mrs. Workman had one son, Donald Reeb Workman (1918-1992).

In 1916, Dr. and Mrs. Workman moved to Port Colborne, Ontario where Dr. Workman practiced medicine in the same building for the next 50 years.  As early as 1949, Dr. and Mrs. Workman resided at 150 King Street (in Port Colborne).  Dr. Workman was designated as a Coroner and he served as the Medical Officer of Health for Humberstone Township.

Mrs. Workman died on the 9th of August, 1955.  She was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Port Colborne, the same cemetery where her parents were buried.

In 1965 Dr. Workman was recognized for his many years of service and his dedication to the community of Port Colborne by his peers at a testimonial dinner.  Dr. Workman retired in early 1966.  He died on the 10th of June, 1966.  He was laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery beside his wife.

*Dr. Workman’s grandfather, Dr. Joseph Workman graduated M.D. from McGill University in 1835.  He was the Superintendent of the Toronto Insane Asylum from 1854 until 1875 and he is credited with reforming the abysmal conditions at the institution and providing psychiatric care for the patients.  Dr. Joseph Workman was a social reformer and he wrote a number of articles in relation to mental illness, alcoholism, fetal alcohol syndrome as well as women’s rights and Christian education.  Dr. Joseph Workman was a sought after speaker and he taught medicine at Dr. Rolph’s School of Medicine in Toronto.  Dr. Harold Workman’s uncle was Dr. Charles Kirk Clarke (his mother’s brother).  Dr. Charles Kirk Clarke was a student of Dr. Joseph Workman and he would eventually continue the good work of his mentor when he became the Superintendent of the Toronto Insane Asylum in 1905.  

**Dr. Workman’s brother Dr. William Workman practiced medicine in British Columbia.