Sara Anne McLagan

Sara Anne McLagan (c. 1856 – 20 March 1924) was the first Canadian woman newspaper editor.

She was born near Belfast, but later came to Canada with her mother, to meet up with her father, when she was 3. Her father, Sergeant John Cunningham Maclure, came to New Westminster in 1858 with the Royal Engineers. Her father also taught her telegraphy. At the age of 12, when a major forest fire threatened their Matsqui home, Sara tapped a message through to New Westminster to call for help. At 14 she was employed at the New Westminster telegraph station.

Sara was educated in New Westminster and became a co-founder of Vancouver Daily World with husband John McLagan. After her husband's death, she continued as president and editor, publishing with brother Frederick S. Maclure. She would die on March 20, 1924 in Vancouver.

Sara Anna and John had a son, Lt Patrick Douglas Maclure McLagan, who died on October 15, 1917 and is buried in Dickebusch Road Cemetery.

References

• "Sara Anne McLagan". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• History of Metropolitan Vancouver
• City of Vancouver