Arthur Minchin came to Canada in 1910, under the British Missionary Society. He attended Emmanuel College in Saskatoon for five years. While at Emmanuel College he provided ministry to isolated congregations and lumber camps in Northern Saskatchewan. In September of 1918 he traveled to the Lac La Ronge School north of Prince Albert and worked there over the winter. Minchin served as principal of the school at Lac LaRonge Saskatchewan from 1918-1919. From 1919-1921 Arthur was in charge of the MacKay Indian Residential School in the Pas Manitoba. While at the MacKay Indian Residential School Rev. Minchin learned Cree and taught syllabics to the students at the MacKay School.
From 1912-1936, Rev. Minichin served as principal at St. George's College in Prince Albert and was in charge of various parishes in southern Manitoba. From 1936-1941 he was the principal of the Elkhorn Indian Residential School. The Minchin family moved in Sault Ste Marie in 1941. Rev. Minchin served as the principal at Shingwauk from 1941-1948.
The wife of Arthur Minchin was in charge of the senior boys at the Mackay School and was the Junior Boys' Supervisor from 1918-1923. The Minchins had five children.
Their daughter Nancy attended high school in Sault Ste. Marie, following which she attended the University of Toronto and the Toronto Normal School. Nancy served as a temporary staff member at Shingwauk during the summer while she was attending University. Nancy's first teaching appointment was in Whitefish Falls. Nancy and her husband have five children, three of whom are also teachers. Nancy currently lives in Powassen, south of Lake Nippissing.
Nancy Minchin is pictured on the right, in the middle. She is With Jenny Tallow, left, and Dorothy Bonspille, right.
