Russell Roy Merifield (1916-2005) is the author of From County Trust to National Trust (1988), a book that documents the history of the National Trust, which has roots in Kawartha Lakes (then known as Victoria County.)

Born in Chatham, Ontario, Merifield graduated from McGill University and served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War Two. He practiced law in Montreal and became a senior officer at Shawinigan Water and Power Company. He was Vice-President and Secretary of the Royal Trust Company of Canada. In 1967, he moved to Toronto as Vice-President and General Manager of Victoria and Grey Trust Company until his retirement, at which time National Trust commissioned him to write From County Trust to National Trust.

Here’s a brief timeline from Victoria Loan and Savings Company to Scotiabank:

Victoria.

The Victoria Loan and Savings Company was founded in 1895, under local management and officially incorporated on September 4, 1897. It was located at 85-87 Kent Street West in Lindsay.

By Letters Patent of Ontario, dated November 11, 1898, the Company was relieved from restrictions which confined its operations to Victoria County. 

By Special Act (Ontario), dated October 1, 1923, the Company was granted the powers of a trust company and the name was changed to The Victoria Trust and Savings Company. 

By 1950, the Victoria Trust and Savings Company had branches in Lindsay, Belleville and Cannington.

Grey.

Around the same time, the Grey-Bruce area was establishing their own banks. 

Incorporated on April 1, 1889, under the name of The Owen Sound Building and Savings Society. 

On May 10, 1889 The Owen Sound, Grey and Bruce Loan and Savings Company was in- 
corporated under the same Act by declaration filed with the Clerk of the Peace for the County 
of Grey. The name was changed to The Grey and Bruce Loan Company by Order-in-Council 
(Ontario) dated September 15, 1897. 

By Special Act 16, George V, c. 123 dated May 1, 1926 the amalgamation of The Grey and 
Bruce Loan Company and The Owen Sound Loan and Savings Company was confirmed under 
the name of The Grey and Bruce Trust and Savings Company and empowered to carry on the 
business of a trust company under The Loan and Trust Corporations Act. 

By 1950, the Grey and Bruce Trust and Savings Company had branches in Owen Sound and Peterborough. 

Victoria and Grey Trust Company. 

By Order-in-Council dated November 9, 1950, the amalgamation of The Victoria Trust and 
Savings Company and The Grey and Bruce Trust and Savings Company was confirmed under 
the name of Victoria and Grey Trust Company and empowered to carry on the business of a trust 
company under The Loan and Trust Corporations Act. 

The head office of the Victoria and Grey Trust Company was located in Lindsay with branches in Belleville and Cannington. 

By Order-in-Council, dated September 16, 1965, the Lieutenant Governor gave assent to an 
agreement dated July 27, 1965, whereunder Victoria and Grey Trust Company and British Mortgage 
and Trust Company agreed to amalgamate under the terms and subject to the conditions therein 
set out, the amalgamated company to be called Victoria and Grey Trust Company. 

This amalgamation brought 15 additional branches to Victoria and Grey Trust Company. The purchase of Lambton Trust Company in 1969 brought 6 more branches. The Company continued to grow, merging with more companies, opening more branches and expanding into Western Canada. 

By 1982, the Company had 88 branches across 5 provinces. 

National Trust. 

In 1984, the Company merged with National Trust Company to form the National Victoria and Grey Trustco. 

The name, National Victoria and Grey Trustco, was deemed too cumbersome, and was subsequently changed to the National Trust Company on June 03, 1985. 

On August 14, 1997 Scotiabank purchased the National Trust Company.

Today, Scotiabank maintains a branch located on the same site as the very last Victoria and Grey/National Trust building in Lindsay. 

Further Reading: 

Report of the Registrar of Loan and Trust Corporations, Ontario, 1965.

Victoria and Grey Trust Company, National Archives finding aid, 1987.

History of the National Trust Company, Scotiabank. 

Merifield, Russell Roy obituary. 

Roy Russell Merifield fonds at Trent University.

Other Works:

Speaking of Canada: the centennial history of the Canadian Clubs (1993)

Who said that? : memorable notes, quotes and anecdotes selected from The Empire Club of Canada speeches 1903-2003 (2003)