Harry Llewellyn Fowler (1895–1987) emerged as one of the central builders of the prairie co-operative movement. Born on Prince Edward Island, he moved west with his family as a youth and eventually settled in Alberta. After relocating to Wilcox, Saskatchewan while employed by the Bank of Nova Scotia, he shifted into the co-operative sector—accepting the position of Secretary-Manager of the Wilcox Co-op in 1931. Over the next three decades he became involved with nearly every major co-operative initiative in Western Canada. His leadership touched enterprises ranging from the Co-operative Refinery and Co-operative Implements to Federated Co-operatives, the Regina Medical Co-op, and both provincial and national co-operative credit societies. He retired in 1964 as president of Interprovincial Co-operatives.
Co-operative Leadership : Harry Fowler by Terry Phalen is a portrait of one of Western Canada’s major co-operative figures. Phalen begins with a brief overview of the rise of the Co-op movement across the Prairies, providing context for Fowler’s career. The core of the book presents Fowler’s own memoirs, offering firsthand reflections on his work and the evolution of regional co-operative enterprises. The volume concludes with an essay by Dr. B. N. Arnason, who examines Fowler’s leadership and influence within the movement.
