Historical Districts & DDGMs

Nipissing District No. 18

Nipissing District was formed in 1892 when the northern lodges were separated from Georgian District No. 9. The new District included Granite, Muskoka, and Unity Lodges, along with the newer lodges springing up across the north. By the early 1900s, Nipissing District covered a vast territory stretching from Mattawa to Sault Ste. Marie, and included lodges such as Nipissing No. 420, Strong No. 423, Algonquin No. 434, Powassan No. 443, Sturgeon Falls No. 447, and Corona No. 454.

YearDistrict Deputy Grand MasterDistrict Secretary
1892-93R.W. Bro. Isaac Huber – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1893-94R.W. Bro. W. E. Burgess – North Bay, 420 Nipissing
1894-95R.W. Bro. T. J. Sacret – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1895-96R.W. Bro. A. A. Mowrey – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1896-97R.W. Bro. J. H. Knifton – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1897-98R.W. Bro. Dr. W. H. Howey – Sudbury, 427 Nickel
1898-99R.W. Bro. R. Mills – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1899-00R.W. Bro. J.N. Shearer – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1900-01R.W. Bro. G. W. Liddel – North Bay, 420 Nipissing
1901-02R.W. Bro. Dr. H. L. Barber – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1902-03R.W. Bro. A. J. Young – North Bay, 420 Nipissing

Muskoka District No. 19

In 1904, a reorganisation of Nipissing District led to the creation of Muskoka District No. 19. Lodges in Muskoka, Parry Sound, and the surrounding areas — including Granite No. 352, Muskoka No. 360, Unity No. 376, Golden Rule No. 409, Strong No. 423, Algonquin No. 434, Powassan No. 443, and Corona No. 454 — were grouped together as their own District. This reflected the growing population and activity in the Muskoka and Parry Sound regions during the early 20th century.

YearDistrict Deputy Grand MasterDistrict Secretary
1903-04R.W. Bro. A. J. Whitby – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1904-05R.W. Bro. W. W. McPhee – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1905-06R.W. Bro. Dr. A. Carmichael – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1906-07R.W. Bro. James Whitten – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1907-08R.W. Bro. J. E. Fisher – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1908-09R.W. Bro. James A. Metcalfe – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1909-10R.W. Bro. S. N. Davis – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1910-11R.W. Bro. J. W. Harris – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1911-12R.W. Bro. L. Leay – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1912-13R.W. Bro. Dr. A. S. Porter – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1913-14R.W. Bro. D. M. Grant – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1914-15R.W. Bro. Joseph Edgar – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1915-16R.W. Bro. Robert McConkey – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1916-17R.W. Bro. Joseph F. Hilliar – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1917-18R.W. Bro. M. P. McKay – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1918-19R.W. Bro. Dr. M. H. Limbert – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1919-20R.W. Bro. Edwin Clipsam – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1920-21R.W. Bro. H. E. Rice – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1921-22R.W. Bro. T. J. Williams – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1922-23R.W. Bro. Arthur M. Church – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1923-24R.W. Bro. A. W. Freeland – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1924-25R.W. Bro. Dr. J. J. Wilson – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1925-26R.W. Bro. H. J. Bird Jr. – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1926-27R.W. Bro. J. L. Moore – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1927-28R.W. Bro. T. T. Greavette – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1928-29R.W. Bro. Dr. J. D. McDonald – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1929-30R.W. Bro. L. G. Phillips – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1930-31R.W. Bro. J. Ed. Bailey – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1931-32R.W. Bro. W. Roy Dixon – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1932-33R.W. Bro. William E. Bunt – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1933-34R.W. Bro. J. W. Reid – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1934-35R.W. Bro. Adam M. Brown – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1935-36R.W. Bro. Fred Sharpe – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1936-37R.W. Bro. G. F. Hutcheson – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1937-38R.W. Bro. Joseph B. Lake – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1938-39R.W. Bro. Thomas R. Mitchell – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1939-40R.W. Bro. Harry R. Hayward – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1940-41R.W. Bro. John M. Gerow – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1941-42R.W. Bro. H. C. Budd – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1942-43R.W. Bro. H. J. Jackson – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1943-44R.W. Bro. John Wm. Fryer – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1944-45R.W. Bro. Thomas Millest – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1945-46R.W. Bro. Herman J. Paul – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1946-47R.W. Bro. Milford J. Gulley – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1947-48R.W. Bro. J. Fred McDonald – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1948-49R.W. Bro. William E. Clark – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1949-50R.W. Bro. J. Allan Hutcheson – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1950-51R.W. Bro. F. R. McKinley – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1951-52R.W. Bro. J. Jackson – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1952-53R.W. Bro. P. H. Gerhart – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1953-54R.W. Bro. Stanley E. Anderson – Powassan, 434 Powassan
1954-55R.W. Bro. T. B. Hearn – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1955-56R.W. Bro. J. E. Woodruff – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1956-57R.W. Bro. Alex S. Black – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1957-58R.W. Bro. Bruce Minns – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1958-59R.W. Bro. F. C. Powell – Parry Sound, 352 Granite

Nipissing East District

By 1934, Nipissing District was split into two administrative areas: Nipissing East and Nipissing West. Nipissing East covered the territory from Mattawa through Temiskaming and into North Bay, including lodges like Temiskaming No. 462, Haileybury No. 485, Silver No. 486, Elk Lake No. 507, Mattawa No. 405, Sturgeon Falls No. 447, Nipissing No. 420, and North Bay No. 617. This division reflected the rapid growth of Freemasonry in northern communities and the need to bring District administration closer to the Brethren.

YearDistrict Deputy Grand MasterDistrict Secretary
1934R.W. Bro. Dr. Jason S. McCullough – Temiskaming Lodge No. 462V.W. Bro. William G. Nixon
1935R.W. Bro. E. Roy Herbert – North Bay Lodge No. 617V.W. Bro. John Jago
1936R.W. Bro. Herbert A. Day – Haileybury Lodge No. 485V.W. Bro. W.R. Summerville
1937R.W. Bro. D. George Stevens – Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. John L. Runnalls
1938R.W. Bro. Dr. George R. Crann – Elk Lake Lodge No. 507V.W. Bro. Fred LeGallais
1939R.W. Bro. Herbert A. Batsford – Sturgeon Falls No. 447V.W. Bro. Harry Armitage
1940R.W. Bro. Dr. H.H. Abell – Silver Lodge No. 486V.W. Bro. D.A. Crichton
1941R.W. Bro. Albert F. Hurdman – Mattawa Lodge No. 405V.W. Bro. George Davidson
1942R.W. Bro. Dr. W.J. Fuller, D.D.S. – Temiskaming Lodge No. 462V.W. Bro. Thomas S. Armstrong
1943R.W. Bro. Thomas E. Morton – North Bay Lodge No. 617V.W. Bro. John M. Marshall
1944R.W. Bro. D.G. Wilson – Haileybury Lodge No. 485V.W. Bro. J.E. Dunn
1945R.W. Bro. Archibald Freeman – Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. Percy A. Huntington
1946R.W. Bro. H.M. Summerville – Elk Lake Lodge No. 507V.W. Bro. W.J. Mills
1947R.W. Bro. W. Harry Armitage – Sturgeon Falls No. 447V.W. Bro. Max Mandell
1948R.W. Bro. A.H. Moss – Silver Lodge No. 486V.W. Bro. Albert Wilcox
1949R.W. Bro. George S. Davidson – Mattawa Lodge No. 405V.W. Bro. Kenneth Gunn
1950R.W. Bro. W.G. Nixon – Temiskaming Lodge No. 462V.W. Bro. William C. Barton
1951R.W. Bro. John Smorthwaite – North Bay Lodge No. 617V.W. Bro. Ernest E. Rutledge
1952R.W. Bro. Albert W. Sanderson – Haileybury Lodge No. 485V.W. Bro. D.H. Millar
1953R.W. Bro. Percy A. Huntington – Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. Roderick McLeod
1954R.W. Bro. William J. Mills – Elk Lake Lodge No. 507V.W. Bro. J.G. Mills
1955R.W. Bro. Max Mandell – Sturgeon Falls No. 447V.W. Bro. Reg Bartlett
1956R.W. Bro. Wilmer E. Harrison – Silver Lodge No. 486V.W. Bro. Harold H. McDermid
1957R.W. Bro. Sydney L. Brown – Mattawa Lodge No. 405V.W. Bro. Arthur Wright
1958R.W. Bro. R.H. Irwin – Temiskaming Lodge No. 462V.W. Bro. George E. McKelvie
1959R.W. Bro. Arthur S.R. Easey – North Bay Lodge No. 617V.W. Bro. Lloyd G. Miller
1960R.W. Bro. Thomas G. Tulloch – Haileybury Lodge No. 485V.W. Bro. H.C. Coull
1961R.W. Bro. Maitland G. Gould – Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. John E. Morin
1962R.W. Bro. Duncan R. Young – Elk Lake Lodge No. 507V.W. Bro. Harry Sullivan
1963R.W. Bro. Reg Bartlett – Sturgeon Falls No. 447V.W. Bro. M.J. Carswell
1964R.W. Bro. W. Lorne Pacey – Silver Lodge No. 486V.W. Bro. J.C. Elliott
1965R.W. Bro. Malcolm M. MacDonald – Mattawa Lodge No. 405V.W. Bro. Herman Maxwell
1966R.W. Bro. Roy T. Anderson – Temiskaming Lodge No. 462V.W. Bro. L.L. Woods
1967R.W. Bro. George A. Coombes – North Bay Lodge No. 617V.W. Bro. Arthur S. Halley
1968R.W. Bro. Ossian E. Walli – Haileybury Lodge No. 485V.W. Bro. Robert McGill
1969R.W. Bro. Harry A. Marshall – Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. Robert J. Sayer
2012R.W. Bro. Douglas Cavener – Sturgeon Falls Lodge No. 447V.W. Bro. Stan Fenton
2013R.W. Bro. Gordon A. McKay – North Bay Lodge No. 617V.W. Bro. Joseph P. Rankin

Nipissing West District

When the vast Nipissing District was divided in 1934, it was split into Nipissing East and Nipissing West. Nipissing West covered lodges from Sudbury through Manitoulin Island and westward to Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Elliot Lake, Chapleau, and other northern communities.

During the 1970s, Grand Lodge undertook several reorganisations in Northern Ontario. In 1974 and again in 1977, boundaries were adjusted: Nipissing East continued, a new Sudbury–Manitoulin District was formed, and Nipissing West remained responsible for the westernmost lodges.

In 1979, Nipissing West was renamed Algoma East District, a title that more accurately reflected the geographic region it served. From that point forward, the “Nipissing West” name disappeared from Masonic usage, though its lodges continued under the Algoma East banner.

Muskoka–Parry Sound District

In 1959, Muskoka District No. 19 was renamed Muskoka–Parry Sound District, though the lodges remained the same. This name change better reflected the geographic scope of the District, which stretched across cottage country and into the growing towns of Parry Sound and Muskoka. The District continued to nurture its historic lodges such as Golden Rule, Muskoka, Unity, and Granite.

YearDistrict Deputy Grand MasterDistrict Secretary
1959-60R.W. Bro. W. E. McDonald – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1960-61R.W. Bro. Sid. G. Avery – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1961-62R.W. Bro. F. W. Toswell – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1962-63R.W. Bro. Donald Stevenson – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1963-64R.W. Bro. E. V. Elliott – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1964-65R.W. Bro. Godfrey J. Grunig – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1965-66R.W. Bro. E. P. Lee – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1966-67R.W. Bro. Garnet E. Tait – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1967-68R.W. Bro. Oscar Finnson – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1968-69R.W. Bro. Max Hayward – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1969-70R.W. Bro. Larry Froud – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1970-71R.W. Bro. E. Mingus Moore – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1971-72R.W. Bro. James E. Meikle – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1972-73R.W. Bro. Thomas C. Dempster – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1973-74R.W. Bro. W. J. Ron McKay – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1974-75R.W. Bro. Robert Duncan – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1975-76R.W. Bro. Stanley L. Goodwin – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1976-77R.W. Bro. William H. Gerhart – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1977-78R.W. Bro. Harold Toswell – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1978-79R.W. Bro. Lionel Peake – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1979-80R.W. Bro. Dr. Deane I. Murdy – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1980-81R.W. Bro. Norman S. Sedore – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1981-82R.W. Bro. Myron Beathune – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1982-83R.W. Bro. Lorne B. Tudhope – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1983-84R.W. Bro. Lorne E. M. McNeice – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1984-85R.W. Bro. William J. Adams – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1985-86R.W. Bro. James Dickerson – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1986-87R.W. Bro. Bertram Sinclair – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1987-88R.W. Bro. Robert D. Carr – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1988-89R.W. Bro. Garfield Robertson – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1989-90R.W. Bro. Beverley Roberts – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1990-91R.W. Bro. Roy W. Davis – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
1991-92R.W. Bro. A. Paul Stephen – Huntsville, 376 Unity
1992-93R.W. Bro. William Cleverdon – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1993-94R.W. Bro. Ross A. Brunne – Powassan, 443 Powassan
1994-95R.W. Bro. Larry Jeffery – Sundridge, 423 Strong
1995-96R.W. Bro. Thomas A. Lee – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
1996-97R.W. Bro. David Schmeler – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
1997-98R.W. Bro. M. Lee Shea – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
1998-99R.W. Bro. Roy Kerr – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
1999-00R.W. Bro. Hermann Waxl – Huntsville, 376 Unity
2000-01R.W. Bro. Jeffrey Froud – Powassan, 443 Powassan
2001-02R.W. Bro. Gordon Williams – Sundridge, 423 Strong
2002-03R.W. Bro. Dr. Deane A. Murdy – Emsdale, 434 Algonquin
2003-04R.W. Bro. James F. Kirk-White – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
2004-05R.W. Bro. David C. Mahon – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
2005-06R.W. Bro. John Todd – Parry Sound, 352 Granite
2006-07R.W. Bro. Garnet E. Schenk – Gravenhurst, 409 Golden Rule
2007-08R.W. Bro. Harold J. Johnson – Huntsville, 376 Unity
2008-09R.W. Bro. Gerald E. Stillar – Powassan, 434 Powassan
2009-10R.W. Bro. Terry Hornibrook – Sundridge, 423 Strong
2010-11R.W. Bro. Michael Grima – Burk’s Falls, 454 Corona
2011-12R.W. Bro. Stephen R. McIntyre – Bracebridge, 360 Muskoka
2012-13R.W. Bro. David P. Hardie – Orillia, 352 Granite
2013-14R.W. Bro. Robert Romberg – Huntsville, 376 Unity

Nipissing Muskoka District

In 2014, Nipissing East and Muskoka–Parry Sound Districts were merged to form the present-day Nipissing Muskoka District. This new District brought together the historic lodges of both areas — Muskoka No. 360, Unity No. 376, Golden Rule No. 409, Nipissing No. 420, Strong No. 423, Algonquin No. 434, Powassan No. 443, Sturgeon Falls No. 447, Corona No. 454, Mattawa No. 405, and North Bay No. 617. The new District continues to represent the growth, resilience, and fellowship of Masonry north of the Severn River.

YearDistrict Deputy Grand MasterDistrict Secretary
2014–2015R.W. Bro. Terry P.A. Taylor – Golden Rule Lodge No. 409V.W. Bro. Shawn Dougan
2015–2016R.W. Bro. Robert Inglis – Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. Jaydee Ray
2016–2017R.W. Bro. Matt Plant – Powassan Lodge No. 443V.W. Bro. David Joseph Plant
2017–2018R.W. Bro. James D. Boyuk – Algonquin Lodge No. 434V.W. Bro. Howard Roy McIntosh
2018–2019R.W. Bro. Gerald W. Brandt – Corona Lodge No. 454V.W. Bro. Christopher Lewin
2019–2021R.W. Bro. Raymond J. Meadows – Sturgeon Falls Lodge No. 447V.W. Bro. John LeRoy
2021–2022R.W. Bro. Michael J. Blakely – Muskoka Lodge No. 360V.W. Bro. Jamie Hopkins
2022–2023R.W. Bro. John K. Davis – Unity Lodge No. 376V.W. Bro. William H. Roffey
2023–2024R.W. Bro. Joseph P. Rankin – North Bay Lodge No. 617W. Bro. Bruce Swannell
2024-2025R.W. Bro. James E. Brien – North Bay Nipissing Lodge No. 420V.W. Bro. James A. McCutcheon