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• User:Flibirigit/did you know – DYK checklists
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox – Current projects and checklists
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox1 – Canadian ice hockey checklists
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox2 – General Canadian ice hockey
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox3 – General American ice hockey
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox4 – Canadian biography 1
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox5 – Canadian biography 2
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox6 – Canadian biography 3
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox7 – Canadian biography 4
• User:Flibirigit/sandbox8 – Canadian biography 5
• User:Flibirigit/ice hockey – General ice hockey
• User:Flibirigit/other – Other subjects

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Dave Gill

Checklist

• submit WP:DYKN for Dave Gill
• QPQ =
• Author = Flibirigit

• DYK ... that Ottawa Transportation Commission general manager Dave Gill once had his vehicle stolen from work, resulting in him riding Ottawa streetcars? [1]

• DYK ... that Dave Gill was seen carrying sacks of pennies totalling CA$500 into the OER offices in 1928? [2][3][4]

• DYK ... that transportation executive Dave Gill had a fondness for "little red doodlebugs" which fascinated locals and visitors? [5]

• DYK ... that transportation executive Dave Gill once played solo in a doubles handball tournament? [6]

• DYK ... that Dave Gill was regarded as a "fashion plate" while coaching ice hockey? [7]

• DYK ... that Dave Gill was regarded as a "fashion plate" in the National Hockey League? [8]

• Comment: I volunteer two QPQ credits for one nomination, to help reduce the backlog of nominations without reviews.

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• introduce wikilinks to Dave Gill
  • update listing at Gill (name), David Gill
  • add to listings for 1887 births/1959 deaths
• update article's talk page with WikiProject banners and assessment
  • {{Canadian English}}, {{WikiProject Biography}}, {{WikiProject Canada}}, {{WikiProject Canadian football}}, {{WikiProject Canoeing and Kayaking}}, {{WikiProject Ice Hockey}}, {{WikiProject Transport}}

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• citations in numerical order
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Newspaper checklist

Newspapers.com search

• Dave Gill (Ottawa, Canada; 1910–1939) = 948 results, search complete
• David N. Gill (Ottawa and Montreal; 1918–1959) = 603 results, search complete
• D. N. Gill (Ottawa and Montreal; 1910–1959) = 350 results, search complete
• David Gill (Ottawa, Canada; 1910–1939) = 122 results, search complete
• David Norman Gill (Canada; 1887–1959) = 18 results, search complete

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• David Gill (Ottawa, Canada; 1940–1959) = 897 results (filter by sport)
• Dave Gill (Ottawa, Canada; 1940–1959) = 532 results (filter by sport)

Newspaperarchive.com search

• Dave Gill (Canada; 1887–1959) = 128 results, search complete
• David Gill (Canada; 1887–1959) = 71 results, search complete
• D. N. Gill (Canada; 1887–1959) = 6 results, search complete
• David N. Gill (Canada; 1887–1959) = 4 results, search complete
• David Norman Gill (Canada; 1887–1959) = 0 results, search complete

Infobox and introduction

For other people with the same name, see David Gill (disambiguation).

Dave Gill
Gill c. 1912
Born	(1887-11-24)November 24, 1887 Grenville, Quebec, Canada
Died	March 29, 1959(1959-03-29) (aged 71) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	Westmount Academy Montreal Business College
Occupation(s)	Ottawa Electric Railway and Ottawa Transportation Commission general manager
Known for	Ottawa Senators Ottawa and District Amateur Hockey Association Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Ottawa Rough Riders Canadian Transit Association
Awards	Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame

David Norman Gill (November 24, 1887 – March 29, 1959) was a Canadian sportsperson and public transport executive.

• Early life, playing/refereeing career. A native of Grenville, Quebec, Gill studied at Montreal Business College. A member of the war canoe, and played rugby football for New Edinburgh in the Ottawa City Football League. Ten seasons as a lineman for the Ottawa Rough Riders, won an intermediate championship in the Quebec Rugby Football Union, Named team captain of the Rough Riders of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union in 1922. Gill was a timekeeper and referee in the Ottawa City Hockey League, and refereed other local leagues.

• Ottawa-New Edinburgh Canoe Club. Gill served as vice-president of the New Edinburgh Canoe Club from 1911 to 1913, then it merged with Ottawa Canoe Club. Gillserved on the Ottawa-New Edinburgh Canoe Club (ONECC) executive to construct a new clubhouse. Gill served as president of the ONECC from 1921 to 1924. In 1921, the ONECC won the championship of the northern division of the Canadian Canoe Association (CCA). When the ONECC clubhouse was consumed by fire, Gill organized a company to construct a permanent facility, new clubhouse opened in 1923.

• Ottawa New Edinburghs hockey coach. Gill coached senior ice hockey with the Ottawa New Edinburghs for fifteen seasons, winning eight Ottawa City Hockey League championships. He led the team to an Interprovincial Amateur Hockey Union (IAHU) championship during the 1911–12 season. He coached the New Edinburghs in the 1916 Art Ross Cup series for the Eastern Canada amateur championship. He became president and coach of the team as of the 1920–21 season. The Ottawa Citizen opined that Gill's New Edinburgh teams could have won the Allan Cup as the amateur champions of Canada, had it not been for the lack of organization of Ottawa district hockey.

• Ice hockey administrator.

• Resignation from amateur sports. When Gill became involved with Ottawa's professional hockey team in 1925, he lost his standing with the AAU of C, and subsequently resigned from all amateur sport positions he held.

• Ottawa Senators. Gill was secretary-treasurer of the Ottawa Auditorium from 1923 to 1934, and general manager of the Ottawa Senators from 1925 to 1933. Gill was head coach of the Senators from 1926 to 1929, and again for the 1929–30 season. Gill coached the Senators to their final Stanley Cup victory in franchise history. Defeated the Boston Bruins in the 1927 Stanley Cup Finals. Seven future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. In 1927, named to the board of directors of the Senators, and the NHL Board of Governors. As the Senators struggled financially, Gill sold contracts or traded veteran players. Taking advantage of better ticket sales on the road, the Senators transferred some home games to other cities. Gill transitioned the team into younger and mostly locally-produced players. Gill sought an increased visitor's share of gate receipts.

• Later sports career. After retiring as a player, Gill coached intermediate-level football for the Ottawa-New Edinburghs. For Interprovincial Rugby Football Union and Quebec Rugby Football Union games in Ottawa, he was head linesman from 1923 to 1925, then served as the penalty scorer until his retirement in 1938. He held severl executive positions in amateur baseball in the 1930s. In the late 1930s, Gill gradually retired from sports with the increasing time demands of his transportation career.

• Ottawa Rowing Club. Gill joined the Ottawa Rowing Club in 1936, was elected an honorary vice-president of the Ottawa Rowing Club in 1940, served on the club's board of governors, was elected honorary president of the Ottawa Rowing Club in 1950, also served as chairman of the board of governors, holding both positions for the remainder of his life.

• Ottawa Rough Riders. Gill was a director of the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1946 to 1959, including president in 1954 in 1955. As president, when the Rough Riders had the lowest attendance in the league, Gill requested that the IRFU do revenue sharing of gate receipts to keep competitive teams in smaller cities. Gill sought community support for renovations to Lansdowne Park, and to increase season tickets by co-operating with local community service organizations. In December 1955, Gill signed Frank Clair to a two-year contract. Clair previously coached two Grey Cup victories.

• Ottawa Electric Railway/Ottawa Transportation Commission. Gill spent 52 years in transportation, worked for the Ottawa Electric Railway (OER) from 1904 to 1948, promoted from within until general manager. World War I service with the Corps of Canadian Railway Troops. Negotiated with the employee's union which established paid leave, cost of living bonuses, and increased wages. Served on the OER Company board of directors. Ottawa Board of Trade. He pushed for needed infrastructure repairs, faced with serving transit needs by using outdated equipment.During World War II, OER ridership increased by 170 percent, oversaw route revisions, rationing of gasoline mobilized all available rolling stock. Gill reduced rush hour strain on the system by staggering the working hours for Civil Service of Canada employees in Ottawa. Gill was president of the Canadian Transit Association from 1944 to 1946, sought to distribute knowledge of the construction, maintenance and operation of public transit in Canada. Gill was general manager of the Ottawa Transportation Commission (OTC) from 1948 to 1956. The City of Ottawa purchased the OER. Gill oversaw negotiations on behalf of the OTC and the union, establishing a pension plan, reduced hours, increased wages. Gill oversaw integration of new service areas when Ottawa annexed neighbouring communities. Implement trolleybuses in 1951, replacing steetcar service, and began overseeing removal of streetcar tracks as the OTC transitioned into buses.

• Community service. As a member of the Ottawa YMCA for at least 25 years, Gill was a patron of its amateur wrestling club. He was involved with sports programs at the Ottawa Boys & Girls Club. Gill was the Ottawa 100 Club president, leading community service war efforts, later named a director on the International Association of 100 Clubs.

• Personal life. Gill never married.

• Honours and legacy. He was a life member of the Ottawa New Edinbugh Canoe Club, and posthumously inducted into the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame in 1967.

Early life and education

David Norman Gill was born on November 24, 1887, in Grenville, Quebec, to parents John Gill and Janet Walker, and had two brothers, and two sisters. Gill received his public school education in Grenville, then continued his studies Westmount Academy, followed by commercial courses at Montreal Business College. After schooling in Montreal, Gill began working in Ottawa transportation in 1904, settling in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood.

Playing and refereeing career

Football in Ottawa, c. 1910

In 1906, Gill joined the New Edinburgh Canoe Club as a paddler in the war canoe. In the same year, he began playing rugby football for the club in the Ottawa City Football League. In addition to playing in the league, he was also a timekeeper and on-field official.

Playing at a higher level, Gill completed ten seasons as a lineman for the Ottawa Rough Riders. He played on the intermediate team that won the Quebec Rugby Football Union championship in 1912, and remained with them until 1917. After military service during the 1918 season, he played for the senior team in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union from 1919 to 1923. Named captain of the senior Rough Riders in 1922, he played as the long snapper coached by Dave McCann. Gill was described as a popular leader of the team, despite the winless 1922 season. In the 1923 season, Gill retired from playing to be manager of the team.

In the Ottawa City Hockey League, Gill served as a timekeeper and a referee. He was appointed to the league's board of referees in 1920. He was also a referee in the Ottawa Church Hockey League, the Ottawa Civil Service Hockey League, and the Ottawa Junior City Hockey League.

Early amateur sport executive career

While Gill played football in the autumn, he held executive positions for canoeing and baseball in the summer, and ice hockey in the winter. COMPLETE FOOTNOTE: Executive positions in ice hockey prior to 1924, add the Ottawa branch of the AAU of C?

In baseball, Gill sought to promote amateur sports as vice-president of the Pastime Amateur Athletic Association established in 1920. The association resulted from the Pastime Baseball Club in the Ottawa City Baseball League. He also served on the governing commission of the Ottawa City Baseball League, and was elected vice-president of the Ottawa Gunners baseball team in 1922.

Ottawa-New Edinburgh Canoe Club

Gill served as vice-president of the New Edinburgh Canoe Club from 1911 to 1913. At the 1913 Canadian Canoe Association (CCA) general meeting, the association declined to affiliate with the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada (AAU of C) after Gill argued that his club risked having the AAU of C declare some of his club's members as professionals since their canoeists also played football and hockey.

The Ottawa-New Edinburgh Canoe Club clubhouse prior to 1922

The New Edinburgh Canoe Club and Ottawa Canoe Club merged in 1914, then began buidling a new clubhouse uncompleted due to World War I. Gill was named to the Ottawa-New Edinburgh Canoe Club (ONECC) executive committee with plans to finish construction of the new clubhouse. As part of the club executive, Gill was a recurring umpire at canoe regattas in Ontario. In 1920, he was elected vice-president and chairman of the motorboats committee, in addition to coaching the club's hockey team.

Gill served as president of the ONECC from 1921 to 1924. In 1921, the ONECC consolidated its governance of hockey, football and basketball into the canoe club executive, rather than operating as separate organizations. In his first season as president, the ONECC completed refurbishment of its clubhouse, and won the championship of the northern division of the CCA.

In the 1922 season, Gill and other sporting organizations met with Ottawa City Council to plan straightening of the Rideau River to create a regatta course. He also oversaw preparations for the annual CCA regatta, and northern division canoe meet, and helped co-ordinate the first annual Dominion Day regatta in Ottawa. The year ended in disaster on December 3, when the ONECC clubhouse was consumed by fire, including the loss of sixty canoes.

Ottawa-New Edinburgh Club war canoe, c. 1924

The ONECC revised its constitution in 1923, to use the title of commodore instead of president or captain. Without a clubhouse, Gill secured temporary quarters for the club and organized a company to construct a permanent facility, and planned future tennis courts and an athletic field. The new clubhouse opened in August 1923, when then ONECC hosted the CCA championships. From 1923 to 1924, he was the business manager of the ONECC football team that won the Quebec Rugby Football Union intermediate championship in 1923.

Gill remained on the ONECC executive committee as past commodore, serving as chairman of the racing committee when the club participated in six regattas, and winning 32 races in 1924.

Ottawa New Edinburghs hockey coach

Art Ross Cup

Gill coached senior ice hockey with the Ottawa New Edinburghs for fifteen seasons, winning eight Ottawa City Hockey League championships. He was elected to the team's executive committee as of the 1910–11 season, and later became its auditor. He led the team to an Interprovincial Amateur Hockey Union (IAHU) championship during the 1911–12 season, and looked elsewhere for stronger competition in an exhibition series with the St. Michael's College School senior team in the 1912–13 season. He arranged exhibition games in Cleveland and Pittsburgh after the 1915–16 season, then coached the New Edinburghs in the Art Ross Cup series versus Lachine, Quebec, for the Eastern Canada amateur championship.

The Ottawa New Edinburghs suspended operations for the 1916–17 season, due to expenses and loss of players to World War I military service. In the 1917–18 season, Gill coached and managed a newly formed Ottawa Car Company hockey team, which played in a local manufacturer's league.

Gill assisted the Ottawa New Edinburghs to resume play for the 1918–19 season, while he completed military service. He declined to be team president for the 1919–20 season, and temporarily retired from hockey. He became president and coach of the team for the 1920–21 season in the Ottawa City Hockey League. After coaching the team in the Capital Hockey League for the 1921–22 season, Gill led the team until 1923–24 season in the Ottawa City Hockey League.

Allan Cup aspirations

The Allan Cup trophy

The Ottawa Citizen opined that Gill's New Edinburgh teams could have won the Allan Cup as the amateur champions of Canada, had it not been for the lack of organization of Ottawa district hockey. Gill intended the New Edinburghs to challenge the Winnipeg Victorias for the 1912 Allan Cup, but Ottawa district playoffs took too long to complete which left no time to travel to Winnipeg for a challenge.

The New Edinburghs waited until winning their league championship again to challenge for the Allan Cup, since its trustees did not allow challenges before the season. Gill attended the IAHU meetings, where the Ottawa league requested a shorter IAHU schedule to allow time for Allan Cup challenges. In the 1912–13 season, the Montreal Star reported some players in the IAHU were paid to play amateur hockey. The charges disqualified the IAHU from competing for the Allan Cup, despite that Gill vouched nobody on his team received money to play.

Ice hockey administrator

• consider sorting by season, similar to the Ottawa Senators section
  • insert a summary paragraph for the Ottawa City Hockey League, everything else by season?

Ottawa City Hockey League & Ottawa Hockey Commission (sorted)

The Arena, Ottawa

• 1915–16 season. Gill was a delegate to the Ottawa City Hockey League, where he sought to organize district playoffs where teams from Ottawa would be eligible for the Allan Cup.

• November 1916. Gill was elected treasurer of the Ottawa City Hockey League. League playing at the Arena on Laurier Avenue.

• 1916–17 season. Gill was treasurer of the Ottawa City Hockey League.

• 1917–18 season. Gill sat on the Ottawa Hockey Commission, which oversaw player registrations and playing rules. A new constitution was presented. Commission decided on disputes of which player belonged to which team. Amateur eligibility was referred to the Quebec branch of the AAU of C.

• 1918–19 season. Ottawa City Hockey League debated whether to continue the Ottawa Hockey Commission to govern amateur hockey, or to operate independently. the commission was formed for the 1917–18 season, and included Gill as one of six members. Some hockey teams opposed the Commission, feeling it exceeded its authority to determine who was allowed in the league and how gate receipts were dispersed.

• 1918–19 season. During World War I, Gill remained a member of the Ottawa City Hockey League Commission.

• October 1919. The Ottawa City Hockey Commission was appointed to govern amateur hockey until the Central Canada Amateur Hockey Association was established. Gill was a member of the commission, including a representative from each group/league.

• November 1919. Ottawa City Hockey League to seek affiliation with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), and the Ottawa Amateur Federation. League discussed taking over the Rideau Skating Rink in Ottawa, in search for ice time to accommodate more teams. Gill was re-elected to the Ottawa Hockey Commission for the 1919–20 season.

• Gill resigned from the Ottawa Hockey Commission due to business pressures. He was replaced by Silver Quilty.

Rideau Skating Rink

• November 1920. Ottawa City Hockey League appointed Gill as chairman of a committee to manage the Rideau Skating Rink for the season, which included scheduling of games, ticket sales, and accommodations for its teams.

• November 1920. For the Rideau Skating Rink, Gill oversaw construction of a new spectator entrance on Hastey Avenue, and drafting an agreement for ice time with the Ottawa Skating Club, and scheduling ice time for the Ottawa City Hockey League.

• 1920–21 season. The Ottawa City Hockey League, and the Capital Hockey League both operated within Ottawa. Gill to oversee scheduling for games at the Rideau Rink. The Ottawa City Hockey League chose delegates to attend the Central Canada Amateur Hockey Association general meeting in Ottawa. (possibly the Ottawa District Amateur Hockey Association?)

• November 1921. Gill resigned as manager of the Rideau Rink.

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Central Canada Hockey Association (sorted)

• November 1916. Amateur hockey clubs in Eastern Ontario and Quebec, proposed establishing a governing body for ice hockey, the Central Canada Hockey Association (CCHA). Gill was a driving force behind the proposal. The Art Ross Cup was expected to represent the championship of the CCHA.

• November 1916. Gill was a delegate of the Ottawa City Hockey League to the meeting in Montreal to establish the Central Canada Hockey Association. The CCHA to allow amateur play only.

• November 1916. The new CCHA was established at Montreal, it aimed to support amateur sport and approved by the Quebec branch of the AAU of C. Ottawa City Hockey League to apply for membership in the ECHA.

• October 1919. Following a meeting with Ottawa City Hockey League and Art Ross, a committee was formed tasked with completing plans to establish the Central Canada Amateur Hockey Association to govern amateur hockey in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley area, and compete for the Art Ross Trophy. The Ottawa City Hockey Commission was appointed to govern amateur hockey until then. Teams to be included from Eastern Ontario and Quebec. Clubs which reinstated professionals as amateurs would be excluded.

• October 1919. The proposed Central Canada Amateur Hockey Association to apply for sanction from the AAU of C, to compete as amateurs for the Allan Cup.

• November 1919. Gill was elected chairman of the Central Canada Amateur Hockey Association, seeking to expand amateur hockey in the Ottawa Valley area. Association to consider establishing trophies for the winners of each group. Cities included Ottawa, Hull, Rockland, Renfrew, Pembroke, Arnprior, Almonte, Aylmer, Russell. Requests received from Perth and Brockville.

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UNSORTED

• December 1919. The Ottawa Citizen wrote that if the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association (QAHA) admitted both Ottawa amateur hockey leagues for the 1919–20 season, it could end the schism between the groups. The Capital Amateur Hockey Association, and the Ottawa City Hockey League both applied for membership in the QAHA. The Capital Amateur Hockey Association recognized QAHA as the governing body, and its executives resigned from the Eastern Canada Hockey Association. The Ottawa City Hockey League has been a member of the ECHA. QAHA was a more desirable affiliation since it had alliances with the CAHA and the International Skating Union of the United States. The schism started due to disagreements on which teams would be admitted to the Ottawa City Hockey League, and at which arena the games would be played. Four teams then formed the Capital Amateur Hockey Association instead. QAHA had made no decision until their upcoming annual meeting in December 1919. The Ottawa Citizen wrote that if either league was declined by the QAHA, it would join the ECHA.

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Ottawa and District Amateur Hockey Association (sorted)

W. R. Granger

• August 1920. The Central Canada Hockey Association (CCHA) which oversaw hockey in the Ottawa Valley, proposed to separate from the QAHA and became its own branch of the CAHA, and change its name to the Ottawa and District Hockey Association when objections noted by the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association to the name. Ed Archibald of the CCHA went to Montreal to confer with W. R. Granger, hoping to gain approval to breakaway from the QAHA. Archibald had worked with Silver Quilty on plans to establish the Ottawa and District Hockey Association, to oversee its own player registrations, and Allan Cup playoffs. Support received from other branches of the CAHA, the Upper Ottawa Valley League, the Brockville section, and Ottawa City Hockey League. Silver Quilty was president of the CCHA.

• December 1920. Silver Quilty was president, Dave Gill was secretary of the Central Canada Amateur Hockey Association, which was affiliated with the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Federation.

Silver Quilty

• Gill collaborated with Silver Quilty for years, in what resulted as the ODAHA with Gill as the original secretary organizing district playoffs.

• Gill and Silver Quilty helped establish the Ottawa and District Amateur Hockey Association (ODAHA) in 1920. Gill and Silver Quilty collaborated for years to organize and establish the ODAHA, to give the region a voice in national hockey. Gill originated the idea of an ODAHA, served as its first secretary.

• February 1921. Quilty submitted his resignation as president of the Ottawa and District Amateur Hockey Association, following disagreements with the registration committee of the local branch of the AAU of C. ODAHA delegates requested Quilty remain as president despite the disagreements.

• 1921–22 season. The Capital Hockey League affiliated with the ODAHA.

• 1922 Ottawa Winter Carnival, Gill helped arrange an Ottawa All-star team to play versus the Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team, the defending Allan Cup champions.

• 1922 Allan Cup playoffs. Gill assisted in arranging playoffs for the ODAHA. Gill recommended that the ODAHA limit the number of teams which could be classified as senior hockey, with remaining entries classified at intermediate, in effort to reduce competition for the stronger players eligible for the Allan Cup, and be mutually beneficial to more teams. Gill's plan was endorsed by delegates to better the future of the ODAHA.

• 1922 CAHA general meeting, was appointed to a committee along with Fred Marples and W. A. Hewitt, to revise the CAHA constitution, by-laws and playing rules. After lengthy discussion, the CAHA endorsed a decision by the ODAHA to decline registration to civil service teams, and stated that the district had the authority to chose who could register, further that any team representing civil service or commercial organizations could only be admitted as an associate member with no vote. Gill and Quilty represented the ODAHA at meetings of the CAHA. CAHA to alternate the presidency between Eastern and Western Canada, similarly the host location of the finals for the Allan Cup and Memorial Cup, to increase interest across the country.

• November 1922. The Ottawa Citizen wrote that success of the OADAHA was due to "the energetic and uniting efforts of Dave Gill", crediting him for overcoming difficulties and conducting business efficiently.

• November 1922. When the CAHA debated whether to register an amateur hockey player who was a professional in another sport, Gill felt that the existing definition of an amateur was too strict if it was adhered to. The motion from Saskatchewan was withdrawn and professionals were not allowed in the CAHA.

• November 1922. Gill was seretary of the ODAHA, which decided that the City Amateur Hockey League would operate with two senior sections (divisions). The New Edinburghs had a senior team in Group 2, and another team in the intermediate group. Gill represente the ODAHA at the CAHA semiannual meeting in November 1922, which the constitution was updated to prevent Canadian players from migrating to play hockey in the USA, then returning the next season. Players now had to sit out one year if returning.

• December 1923. Gill was president of the OADAHA, and attended CAHA executive meetings.

• December 1923. After Gill advocated on behalf of the OADAHA, the CAHA chose to host its next general meeting, and the 1924 Allan Cup in Ottawa. It was the first Allan Cup final to be played in Ottawa. OADAHA officials reduced the number of senior teams in the area in an effort to increase the quality of play. Gill noted that amateur hockey was growing in the region, and the recently constructed Ottawa Auditorium with artificial ice to host large events. see notes at 1924 Allan Cup that the games were relocated due to the 1924 Stanley Cup Finals

• December 10, 1923. Gill was re-elected secretary-treasurer of the OADAHA. Gill was the registration liaison with the CAHA, all players required AAU of C cards.

• December 1, 1924. Annual meeting of the OADAHA, Gill was re-elected secretary-treasurer. The Ottawa Junior Hockey League was sanctioned by the district. Silver Quilty stated a need to develop junior hockey players in the district.

• Gill had been secretary-treasurer of the ODAHA since its inception in 1920 until 1925.

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Ottawa Amateur Athletic Federation & the Ottawa branch of the AAU of C (sorted)

• November 1919. Ottawa Amateur Athletic Federation assumed the lease of Rideau Rink for its hockey teams and ice skating clubs. Ottawa City Hockey Leauge to affiliate with the OAAF and also use the Waller Street Arena. Commission appointed to govern amateur hockey in Ottawa, included Gill, and to adhere strictly to amateurism. Ottawa City Hockey League to affiliate with the Eastern Canada Hockey Association via the OAAF. The commission to cooperate with the recently established Central Canada Hockey Association which operated hockey in the Ottawa Valley. The same commission to oversee the CCHA with additional representatives from those leagues.

• April 1921. The Ottawa branch of the AAU of C was established to control all amateur sport in the Ottawa Valley, replacing the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Federation. Mayor Frank H. Plant was elected president of the new branch. Gill was elected a district governor of the Ottawa AAU of C branch. ADD IMAGE OF FRANK PLANT?

• October 1922. The 1922 Annual meeting of the Ottawa branch of the AAU of C was held at the Chateau Laurier. Gill was named to the branch's membership and investigation committee.

• December 1922. Gill was appointed to the hockey registration committee for the Ottawa branch of the AAU of C, which would decided on any disputes from enforcement of CAHA rules that now required a player to get permission to transfer teams. The Ottawa Journal reported that multiple teams and players had already disregarded the new transfer rule.

• October 1923, general meeting for the Ottawa branch of the AAU of C was held at the Chateau Laurier. All athletes were required to register/obtain cards with the AAU of C to compete in any amateur sport. Athletes warned they would lose amateur status if the competed with or against any professionals. Gill was named the ice hockey advisor to the registration committee.

• October 1923. The Ottawa branch of the AAU of C struggled financially when the majority of affiliated clubs did not pay membership dues, combined with indifference and low attendance at the general meeting. Gill was named a delegate to the AAU of C national meetings.

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Auditorium Limited (sorted)

Perspective view of Ottawa Auditorium

• August 1923. Gill was secretary-treasurer of Auditorium Limited, which owned and oversaw construction of the Ottawa Auditorium opened in 1923. Constructed at the time with 6,000 seats and room for 1,500 people standing. Gill was the first secretary-treasurer of Auditorium Ltd.

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Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (sorted, 1924–25 season)

• March 29, 1924. Silver Quilty was elected president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) to succeed Toby Sexsmith. Gill was named secretary-treasurer to succeed Fred Marples. CAHA made a committee to discuss uniform rules of play among amateur and professional leagues. Gill named to a committee to receive recommendations on rules changes from CAHA clubs. To avoid amateur and professional playoffs overlapping, the CAHA chose to host the Allan Cup in the east when the Stanley Cup was in the west, and vice versa. CAHA also set deadlines for branches to complete their portion of the national playoffs for the Allan Cup and Memorial Cup. CAHA adopted the Ontario Hockey Association's rules for handling protests.

Resignation from amateur sports

When Gill became involved with Ottawa's professional hockey team in 1925, he lost his standing with the AAU of C and severed ties to amateur sport. He subsequently resigned from all amateur sport positions he held, and was succeeded as the CAHA secretary-treasurer by Jack M. Dunn, the manager of the Ottawa-New Edinburghs. The Ottawa Journal wrote that Gill had been a powerful figure in amateur sport, and that his diplomacy overcame many difficulties. He was the guest of an honour and presented with a diamond ring at a banquet on April 16, 1925, given by his former amateur colleagues.

Ottawa Senators

1924–25 season

Pete Green

Gill became manager and secretary-treasurer of the Ottawa Senators on January 27, 1925, succeeding Tommy Gorman. Gill tookover a team beset by injuries, and out of a playoff position for the 1924–25 season. The Ottawa Journal wrote that he was the "logical" choice for the position, due to his business ties to T. Franklin Ahearn.

On February 26, 1925, several members of the Senators were injured in a head-on train collision near Glen Tay, Ontario, as passengers aboard a Canadian Pacific Railway train bound from Chicago to Montreal. Gill and Ahearn were in their private car, and coach Pete Green and the players were seated in the dining car when the crash occurred.

The Senators placed fourth in the league during the regular season, failing to qualify for the playoffs by one point behind the third-place team.

1925–26 season

Alex Currie

As the manager, Gill represented the Senators at National Hockey League (NHL) general meetings. Late in the 1925–26 season, he substituted as the coach for Alex Currie. For a road game in Toronto, Gill and only eight players made the journey due to illness among the team.

The Senators placed first overall in the regular season with 24 wins in 36 games. The team earned a first round bye in the playoffs, then lost in the NHL finals versus the Montreal Maroons, by a 2-1 cumulative score.

After the season, Gill arranged a two-game exhibition series in Ottawa versus the Saskatoon Sheiks, with former Ottawa member Frank Boucher as a guest player for the Senators.

1926–27 season

For the 1926–27 season, Gill was appointed head coach of the Senators in addition to his role as manager. He represented the team at the NHL general meeting, when the New York Rangers were added to the league. He opposed more teams in the United States at the time, stating that it would have shifted the balance of power away from the league's base in Canada. With the demise of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), the Senators bought the player rights to Bill Cook and Bun Cook. Other NHL teams requested Ottawa relinquish their claim, and the NHL ruled that since Ottawa was already one of the strongest teams in the league, the players went to the weaker New York Rangers. Seeking player to improve the Senators, Gill brought in Jack Adams, Stan Jackson, and Milt Halliday, to bolster the returning roster.

Ottawa Senators in 1927

Gill coached the Senators to victory in all six games played versus the Montreal Canadiens during the regular season, and a first-place finish in the Canadian division. Receiving a first-round bye in the playoffs, Gill rested injured players while awaiting the winner of a series between the Canadiens and Maroons. The Senators defeated the second-place Canadiens by a 5–1 goal total in two games to win the Canadian division playoffs, then play the American division champion Boston Bruins a the best-of-five series for the Stanley Cup.

The first game of the 1927 Stanley Cup Finals was played in Boston, and declared a scoreless draw when play was discontinued due to ice conditions. In game two, Gill coached the Senators to a 3–1 victory by using an aggressive forecheck to score two early goals. Continuing the series in Ottawa, the Seantor and Bruins played to a 1–1 draw. In game four, the Senators prevailed by a 3–1 score to win the Stanley Cup Finals with two wins and two ties. Seven future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees played for Senators during the season; including Jack Adams, Georges Boucher, King Clancy, Alec Connell, Cy Denneny, Frank Nighbor, and Hooley Smith.

Gill coached the Senators to their final Stanley Cup victory in franchise history. In the same season, the team also won the Prince of Wales Trophy and the O'Brien Trophy as NHL playoffs champions.

1927–28 season

Jack Adams

Named to the board of directors of the Senators, Gill continued to coach and manage the team. He requested to be relieved of the additional secretary-treasurer duties he held in the previous season, which included overseeing finances and the box office. In 1927, he was named to the NHL Board of Governors while representing the Senators at league meetings.

Gill's roster for the 1927–28 season included all players from the previous season, except for Jack Adams who became coach of the Detroit Cougars. For financial reasons, Gill sold the contract of Hooley Smith in October. Taking advantage of better ticket sales on the road than at home, the Senators transferred some home games to other cities. Journalist Elmer Ferguson wrote that fans in Ottawa did not give the team support it deserved, and perhaps took the team for granted.

The Senators lost their final game of the regular season by a 4–0 score to the Canadiens, placing third in their division and four points behind the Maroons. In the playoffs, the Senators lost by 0–1 and 1–2 scores to the Maroons in a two-game total goals series.

1928–29 season

Georges Boucher

Gill represented the Senators as an NHL governor, where he pushed to remove the defensive offside rule which he felt caused low-scoring games, and supported proposals to allow the defensive team to pass the pack out of its own zone. When the board of directors of the Senators named a four-person executive committee to handle day-to-day business, Gill was named its the manager.

Returning as coach and manager for the 1928–29 season, Gill led a Senators team with the youngest average player aged in its history, that featured all locally-produced players except for Frank Nighbor. The Senators struggled with injuries and illnesses early in the season, despite having a strong finish. In February 1929, the Senators were out of a playoff position, when Gill traded veteran defencemen and team captain Georges Boucher to the Maroons for younger right winger Joe Lamb. The Senators earned 14 wins and 11 draws in 44 games, placing six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final playoff berth.

1929–30 season

In September 1929, Auditorium Ltd. purchased the Senators, uniting ownership for the team and the Ottawa Auditorium. The Senators struggled financially, had a smaller talent pool to draw from, and played in the least-populated NHL city at the time. Gill requested the NHL to schedule only one home game per week and increase the visitor's share of gate receipts, feeling that too many amateur and professional games per week in Ottawa led to apathy among hockey fans.

Newsy Lalonde became coach of the Senators for the 1929–30 season, signing a two-year contract to succeed Gill who remained as the team's manager. Gill resigned from the NHL board of directors, but remained on the board of directors of the Senators.

Frank Nighbor

In December 1929, Gill purchased the contract of right winger Art Gagné to bolster the reserves for the Senators, adding an Ottawa-born French Canadian to the team. In January 1930, Gill traded veteran forward Frank Nighbor to the Maple Leafs for forward Danny Cox. Gill coached the Senators for four games in March in the absence of Lalonde, including the final home games in played in Ottawa. Gill was champion of the team's year-long cassino tournament on road trips.

The Senators earned 21 wins and 8 draws in 44 games, placing third in Canadian division and one point behind both the Maroons and Canadiens. In the playoffs, the Senators lost 6 goals to 3 in a two-game series versus the Rangers. Following the playoffs, Gill led the Senators in a two-game exhibition series versus the Canadiens, played in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

1930–31 season

Alec Connell

Before the 1930–31 season, Gill traded veteran defender King Clancy to the Maple Leafs for right winger Eric Pettinger and defender Art Smith. Two months later, Gill purchased defender Leo Bourgeault from the Rangers. When Newsy Lalonde was ordered by the team's physician to stop coaching for health reasons, Gill assumed the coaching duties as of December 9. He spent the remainder of the season in the dual role of coach and manager.

After six consecutive losses in late December, Gill played rookie goaltender Bill Beveridge. The decision rested Alec Connell who had played goaltender in all of his team's games in the previous seven years. The Senators continued to have declining attendance at home games, and transferred some home games to the opposing team's arena. The team earned 10 wins and 4 draws in 44 games, placed last in the Canadian division, did not qualify for the playoffs, and struggled financially. Gill felt that the Senators would return to the NHL next season, despite losing money and rumors that the team was for sale.

Later years

Cy Denneny

When the Senators did not operate a team for the 1931–32 NHL season, Gill oversaw the leasing of players to other teams in the league, which generated the team its second largest income in the four previous seasons. As of the 1932–33 season, Gill resigned due to time commitments to his transportation executive career, and was succeeded as coach and manager his former player Cy Denneny.

Gill remained involved as treasurer of Auditorium Ltd. The Senators borrowed $60,000 to operate until the end of the 1933–34 season, when management decided to cease operating the team in Ottawa since selling its players would not pay the debts. The NHL approved relocation of the Senators to St. Louis for the 1934–35 NHL season. Without professional hockey in Ottawa, Gill represented the Auditorium in meetings with the Ottawa City Amateur Hockey Association.

Style and reputation

While coaching the Senators, the Ottawa Citizen described Gill as "always immaculately dressed", regarded as a "fashion plate" in the NHL, and coached while wearing a bowler hat, and a dark blue velvet-collared topcoat. He was further described Gill as a quiet-spoken man who did not use profanity or lose his temper while coaching. and "a quiet, methodical man who gets results". Elmer Ferguson wrote that Gill was a "phlegmatic Ottawa pilot", a "non-combatant mastermind", and a "strong, silent type".

In 1928, Gill was presented a wristwatch by the Ottawa players, in appreciation of his congenial nature and leadership.

Coaching statistics

Career coaching statistics:

Team	Year	Regular season						Playoffs
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
Ottawa Senators	1926–27	44	30	10	4	64	1st in Canadian	Won division finals (5–1 vs. Montreal Canadiens) Won Stanley Cup (2–0–2 vs. Boston Bruins)
Ottawa Senators	1927–28	44	20	14	10	50	3rd in Canadian	Lost division semi-finals (1–3 vs. Montreal Maroons)
Ottawa Senators	1928–29	44	14	17	13	41	4th in Canadian	did not qualify
Ottawa Senators	1930–31	34	6	25	3	15	5th in Canadian	did not qualify
NHL totals		166	70	66	27	170	1 division title	1 Stanley Cup

Later sporting career

After retiring as a player, Gill coached intermediate-level football for the Ottawa-New Edinburghs. For Interprovincial Rugby Football Union and Quebec Rugby Football Union games in Ottawa, he was head linesman from 1923 to 1925, then served as the penalty scorer until his retirement in 1938. Gill oversaw player substitutions, timing, and official scoring of games. The scoresheet he devised was in general usage in Eastern Canada upon is retirement.

Gill was vice-president of the Ottawa Crain's team from 1934 to 1935, that played in the amateur St. Lawrence Baseball League. In 1935, he was vice-president of the Primrose Amateur Athletic Association, which operated teams in the Ottawa City Junior Baseball League, and the Ottawa Intermediate Softball League. He was elected president of the Ottawa Capitals in 1936, a semi-professional team in the Ottawa City Baseball League.

In the late 1930s, Gill gradually retired from sports with the increasing time demands of his transportation career. In 1948, he was an honorary president of the Ottawa-New Edinburgh Hockey Club, which operated senior ice hockey teams.

Ottawa Rowing Club

1951 Ottawa Rowing Club regatta

Gill became chairman of the banquet committee of the Ottawa Rowing Club in 1936, then organized a dinner to honour Ottawa native Frank Amyot, who won a gold medal in canoeing at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Gill was elected an honorary vice-president of the Ottawa Rowing Club in 1940, served on the club's board of governors, and was a judge at annual regattas. Succeeding the deceased Philip Ross, Gill was elected honorary president of the Ottawa Rowing Club in 1950. He also served as chairman of the board of governors, holding both positions for the remainder of his life.

Ottawa Rough Riders

Lansdowne Park c. 1950, home field of the Ottawa Rough Riders

Gill became a director of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1946, was elected vice-president in 1953, and president in 1954.

Ottawa coach Clem Crowe resigned after the team won only two games during the 1954 season, and finished last in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) standings. Gill interviewed several college football coaches, before offering a contract to Cliff Speegle who declined. Gill then signed Chan Caldwell to a two-year contract.

After the Rough Riders had the lowest attendance in the league during the 1954 season, Gill requested at the IRFU general meeting that the visiting team be given a portion of the home team's gate receipts, stating that revenue sharing was necessary to keep competitive teams in smaller cities. The team also failed to recuperate CA$310,000 in expenses from television broadcasting rights, and a deficit that exceeded $17,300.

As a guest speaker at the Ottawa and District Sportsmen's Association in 1955, Gill sought community support for renovations to Lansdowne Park. Gill and the association sought to increase season tickets for the Rough Riders from 6,600 to 10,000, by canvassing football fans in the Ottawa Valley area and co-operating with local community service organizations. He felt that the future of the team depended on the upcoming 1955 season, since the team had only $8,000 in reserve and an expected a budget of $300,000.

Six games into the 1955 season, Gill announced the release of assistant coach John Idzik due to differences with head coach Caldwell where the club's executive had intervened on three occasions. Gill stated that due to disagreements between Caldwell and Idzik, it was in the best interest of the club to release Idzik. Following consecutive losses to the Montreal Alouettes, Gill fined 20 players $200 each for failing to perform up to their capabilities. The team also considered releasing some players amid poor results. After the Rough Riders won only three games during the season and missed the playoffs, Gill fired Caldwell.

In December 1955, Gill signed Frank Clair to a two-year contract. Clair previously coached the Toronto Argonauts to two Grey Cup victories, and had connections at the University of Cincinnati to import talented players from the United States. Gill retired as president before the 1956 season, and remained a director of the team until his death.

Transportation career

Ottawa Electric Railway

Early career

Ottawa Electric Railway c. 1909

Gill worked three months for the Canadian Pacific Railway prior to working for the Ottawa Electric Railway (OER). He began as a junior clerk at age 19 in 1904, then was promoted to serve as a clerk, timekeeper, cashier, and storekeeper. Working as a purchasing agent in November 1917, he was drafted into World War I military service. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in April 1918, serving with the Corps of Canadian Railway Troops. After completing training in Toronto, Gill was deployed to Germany, and returned from Europe by September 1919.

Britannia Park trolley station

When the OER hosted Canadian Electric Railway Association conventions, Gill co-ordinated accomodations for delegates in 1924, and exhibits to showcase new ideas in electric public transportation in 1930.

While Gill was comptroller of the OER, streetcar fares were raised from five to seven cents in 1928. To make exact change for the new fares, he was seen carrying multiple sacks of pennies totalling CA$500 into the OER offices. In the early 1930s, he had six tennis courts built for the Britannia Heights Tennis Club at Britannia Park, an area owned by the OER.

Management career

In August 1938, Gill was appointed an assistant manager of the OER, in addition to his duties as comptroller. He was named acting manager when J. M. Ahearn retired on July 5, 1940. Gill was appointed manager on July 25, 1940, by president T. Franklin Ahearn, who had also been president of the Ottawa Senators. In September 1942, Gill was appointed general manager retroactive to January 1, 1942.

T. Franklin Ahearn

In management, Gill co-operated with City of Ottawa committees for public transit and traffic, to expand and revise bus routes, and change parking laws during rush hour. He regularly studied traffic patterns for faster and efficient service, and advocated for traffic police at busy intersections during rush hour.

Participating in negoiations with the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America which represented OER employees, Gill signed an agreement which established paid leave as of 1940. Futher negotiations established of a labour-management grievance committee, cost of living bonuses, and increased wages. He was elected to the OER Company board of directors in 1944, serving until 1948.

Chaudière Bridge

In 1940, Gill became a member of the Ottawa Board of Trade. Elected to the board's administrative council from 1942 to 1948, he also served as chairman of the traffic and transportation committee from 1942 to 1946. He pushed for public works departments to make needed infrastructure repairs, including bridges to Hull, Quebec, shared by two municipalities. He felt that neither Ottawa or Hull regarded the Chaudière Bridge as their responsibility, and led a delegation from the Ottawa and Hull boards of trade to petition the Minister of Public Works for repairs to the bridge, which was also used by OER streetcars.

World War II

During World War II, OER ridership increased by 169.9 percent from 1939 to 1944. Wartime rationing of gasoline curtailed personal vehicle usage and increased public transit demand. In response, the OER mobilized all available rolling stock. Gill stated that older buses could not be retired due to demand, and that maintenance was difficult while buses were in service.

When buses Gill ordered were requisitioned by the Department of National Defence, he noted that the war effort came first. Rolling stock was difficult to acquire due to the lack of steel and rubber during the war, leading Gill to negotiate with the Dominion Transit Controller for an increased allotment of buses. From 1939 to 1942, Gill cancelled more than 130 stops on bus routes to maintain schedules in with increased ridership, and to conserve gasoline and rubber tires.

Example of a wood-panel streetcar, c. 1939

Unable to purchase new streetcars, Gill acquired ten used wood-panel streetcars from the Toronto Transit Commission in 1942, and an additional ten used streetcars from Toronto two years later. He also directed the digging up unused streetcar rails to be used elsewhere for repairs, with necessary steel going to munitions plants for the war effort.

The Connaught Building in Ottawa housed a portion of the Canadian civil service.

Gill sought to reduce rush hour strain on the system by staggering the working hours for Civil Service of Canada employees in Ottawa, instead of everyone on the same 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule. He recommended that hours be changed for approximately 50 percent or 13,000 employees, which gained approval by the Dominion Transit Controller. Gill felt the plan a success when implemented in 1941, but revisions were needed with the increase to 33,000 employees as of 1942. Although the Dominion Transit Controller stated that Ottawa made more adjustments than any other Canadian city to deal with wartime transportation demands, Gill cautioned that resumption of pre-war working hours would create a demand that the OER could not meet.

In effort to load vehicles to their capacity on busy routes, Gill experimented with uniformed conductors assigned for "packing" riders onto streetcars and buses. Gill stated that conductors asking riders to "move back, please" was getting results, and planned to have more "packers".

Snow removal

During a storm spanning December 1942 to January 1943, all 52 miles (84 km) of the OER streetcar network were immobilized for eight days due to ice and snow. Gill redeployed buses to cover impassable street car routes, and worked overnight alongside OER crews and Canadian Army soldiers, manually shovelling snow and clearing tracks with ice picks. Gill reportedly had multiple sleepless nights until service was restored. Later in 1943, he purchased additional snow removal equipment, not possible earlier due to the war.

Example of a Ford Model T dump truck

Since 1918, the OER used a fleet of 31 Ford Model T trucks for snow removal due their ability to navigate wintery conditions. Gill acquired a reserve of spare parts for the trucks, by purchasing used vehicles from local farmers. He was fond of the trucks referred to as "bright red doodlebugs", since they operated quicker than larger trucks. The Model T snow trucks were reported by the Ottawa Journal to be a local tourist attraction, although Gill was forced to sell the fleet by 1950, lacking skilled drivers to operate the older trucks.

Canadian Transit Association

Gill served on the executive committee of the Canadian Transit Association from 1940 to 1942, was its vice president from 1942 to 1944, and its president from 1944 to 1946. The association co-ordinated transit planning in Canadian cities, sought to distribute knowledge of the construction, maintenance and operation of transit systems, and to ensure the success of public transit in Canada. During Gill's tenure as president, association members were faced with serving transit needs by using outdated equipment. Ridership in Canada increased 124 percent from 1939 to 1945, despite that transit vehicles increased by only 31.6 percent in the same time frame.

Post-war period

Gill opposed lowering fares after the war due to expected increased maintenance costs for its rolling stock. Since the railway network could not accommodate more than 126 streetcars, Gill noted that adding buses was the only means to expand. He felt it impractical to replace the network with buses as of 1946, and oversaw a one-year process to refurbish floors, frames and seats on streetcars. He helped design the new streetcars purchased in 1948, built by the Ottawa Car & Aircraft Corporation.

Streetcar at Bank and Sparks, c. 1947

When Gill raised fares in 1947 from seven to ten cents to cover operating and maintenance costs, Ottawa City Council felt it was excessive, appealed to the Board of Transport Commisionsers, then debated purchasing the OER. After negotiations with the city, Gill and OER directors felt it was in the best interest of its shareholders to sell their assets to the city. Acting mayor George Geldert credited the OER for having facilitated growth of Ottawa in its 57 years of operation. During Gill's tenure as general manager of the OER, its fleet had grown from 116 streetcars and 30 buses in 1940, to 130 streetcars and 61 buses in 1947.

Ottawa Transportation Commission

The City of Ottawa purchased the assets of the OER, assuming control on August 13, 1948. The Ottawa Transportation Commission (OTC) was placed in charge of the system, with Gill remaining in his role as general manager. Journalist Greg Connolley wrote, that Ottawa "acquired something more than property in the person of David N. Gill, a veteran of 44 years' service with the local transit system", and that him remaining showed that OTC commissioners held him in "high esteem".

Gill oversaw negotiations on behalf of the OTC and the union representing its 700 employees. He reached agreements for establishing a pension plan in 1951, increased wages and reducing the work week by four hours in 1953, and subsequent increased wages in 1954.

Remaining involved on the Ottawa traffic and transportation committees, Gill advocated to eliminate parking on arterial roads in rush hour, and for an additional new bridge over the Rideau Canal to ease congestion downtown. Gill asserted that the volume of cars on streets were responsbile for 90 per cent of the delays experienced by the OTC. He also negotiated with city councils in Ottawa and Hull for infastructure repairs, and seeking help from the Federal District Commission.

Ottawa map of its urban and rural communities

Gill oversaw struggles to co-ordinate schedules between streetcars and buses as new services were integrated, including expansion to Nepean. When Ottawa annexed more communities in the early 1950s, Gill oversaw purchase of bus companies in Gloucester, Cyrville, and Eastview.

Trolleybuses replace streetcars

Trolleybus in Canada, c. 1954

Gill considered trolleybuses in Ottawa, and studied usage data from Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg. In 1949, he was re-elected to a one-year term on the Canadian Transit Association executive committee. In 1951, Gill ordered new buses from the Canadian Car and Foundry, and oversaw installation of overhead wiring for the buses. Trolley buses went into service on Christmas Eve that year, replacing steetcar service on Bronson Avenue and Gladstone Avenue.

OTC streetcars carried more than 42.2-million passengers in 1949, with buses carrying almost 10.9-million passengers. The OTC debated eliminating streetcars in 15 to 20 years, once the current infastructure had fully depreciated, avoiding a large capital investment. Gill stated that trolleybuses were more economical to operate than gasoline-powered buses, and began overseeing removal of streetcar tracks as the OTC transitioned into buses in 1954.

Retirement

After 52 years in transportation, Gill retired as general manager of the OTC in October 1956, for personal health reasons. He was retained as a consultant, and succeeded as general manager by L. J. Macdonald from the Montreal Transportation Commission.

Gill had declined suggestions to become commissioner of the OTC, preferring to remain as general manager. He claimed that he could operate both buses and streetcars, but had only operated them on special trips without passengers. He recalled that his most difficult time in transportation, was the winter storm spanning December 1942 to January 1943.

Community service

Downtown Ottawa YMCA on Metcalfe Street, c. 1910

As a member of the Ottawa YMCA for at least 25 years, Gill was a patron of its amateur wrestling club, which awarded the Dave Gill Shield he donated for the Ottawa and District wrestling championships. Gill was vice-president of the Ottawa City Handball League circa 1936–37, which operated at the YMCA. He once played solo in a doubles handball tournament, when his partner was absent.

Gill also assisted with sports programs at the Ottawa Boys & Girls Club, where he presented awards for minor ice hockey. He also donated a trophy awarded to the champions of the Young Men's Hockey League, and helped select players for the club's team in the Ottawa City Junior Hockey League.

Ottawa 100 Club

The Château Laurier hosted weekly luncheons of the Ottawa 100 Club.

Gill became a member of the Ottawa 100 Club in 1932–a community service organization that was part of the Canadian-based International Association of 100 Clubs. When the club's board of directors resigned en masse in 1938, Gill sat on the reorganizing committee to recover from decreased member interest and low attendance at meetings.

The club elected Gill its president in December 1938. He subsequently enacted a new constitution and selected standing committees, and oversaw fundraising to benefit the Protestant Children's Village in Ottawa. He was re-elected to a full a term, serving as president until April 1940. He arranged an old-timers' meeting to attract former members back to the club, and co-operated with the Ottawa YMCA and other local service clubs to send unemployed men to summer camps. When the Ottawa branch of the Canadian Red Cross campaigned to raise CA$100,000 to support World War II medical efforts, Gill assisted with publicity for the drive. He also oversaw the club's distribution of Christmas baskets to needy families.

In June 1940, Gill was named a director on the International Association of 100 Clubs executive committee, which pledged support to the Allies of World War II. He remained involved with the Ottawa 100 Club as its past president, and was a member of the United War Services committee to benefit solicers of the Canadian Army. He was elected a director of the Ottawa 100 Club after his term as past president expired, although due to lack of membership, the club suspended operations in October 1942.

Personal life

Gill family grave marker

Gill never married. He regularly attended sporting events in Ottawa. and spent recreational time motorboating, hunting, fishing, and at the Rivermead Golf Club. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Laurentian Club, the Ottawa Knockers Club, and the Rideau Club.

When the 1938 Ontario licence plates were sold, Gill received the first plates issued in Ottawa–license "1U1". He also received the first Ottawa 1941 automobile marker issued–license 1-F-11. His personal vehicle was stolen while parked at an OTC garage In July 1949, resulting in him riding Ottawa streetcars for a while.

When Gill had a heart attack during 1953, he took leave from work for the first time in his life. He return after two months of rest, and a change in diet where he lost 50 pounds (23 kg). He suffered from a cardiac arrhythmia in retirement, and died at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on March 29, 1959. He was interred in Calumet Cemetery near Grenville, and left an estate valued at $33,414 in 1959, equivalent to $343,094 in 2023.

Honours and legacy

Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame

After serving in World War I, Gill was listed on the roll of honor for the ONECC, and was later made a life member of the club. He was posthumously inducted into the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame in 1967.

The Ottawa Citizen described Gill as "one of the outstanding figures in the history of Ottawa sport", and wrote that he would be remembered as "a man who devoted a life time to his community". Ottawa Journal columnist Bill Westwick wrote that Gill was one of Ottawa's "most prominent and well-loved Ottawa sportsmen", and described him as quiet-spoken, not seeking the limelight, and interested in the advancement of sport.

Ottawa Senators player Frank Nighbor stated, "Gill was one of the best men I ever played under", and that he was "a gentleman and kind in all his actions". ODAHA executive Cecil Duncan stated that Gill was instrumental in operating the Ottawa City Hockey League, and that "he did a lot for hockey in his day and was one of the few men that looked after sport for sport's sake".

References

• Category:1887 births
• Category:1959 deaths
• Category:20th-century Canadian businesspeople
• Category:Anglophone Quebec people
• Category:Bryant and Stratton College alumni
• Category:Businesspeople from Ottawa
• Category:Canadian Amateur Hockey Association secretaries
• Category:Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers
• Category:Canadian football offensive linemen
• Category:Canadian football officials
• Category:Canadian football people from Ottawa
• Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches
• Category:Canadian ice hockey officials
• Category:Canadian male canoeists
• Category:Canadian male handball players
• Category:Canadian Presbyterians
• Category:Canadian public transport executives
• Category:Canadian sports executives and administrators
• Category:Ice hockey people from Ottawa
• Category:Ontario Rugby Football Union players
• Category:Ottawa District Hockey Association executives
• Category:Ottawa Rough Riders personnel
• Category:Ottawa Rough Riders players
• Category:Ottawa Senators coaches
• Category:Ottawa Senators (original) personnel
• Category:People from Laurentides
• Category:Players of Canadian football from Ontario
• Category:Stanley Cup championship–winning head coaches