May 12: Happy birthday, Manitoba; Winnie the Bear dies; Roblin resigns.

Manitoba's changing boundaries (source)

May 12, 1870 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANITOBA !

George-Etienne Cartier's Manitoba Act is given Royal Ascent. It carved out a small patch of the Northwest Territories to create Canada's 5th province. 

The name "Manitoba" is an adaptation of the Cree words for "The Great Spirit Speaks".  

For more on the birth of the province see Manitobia: Life and Times.

May 12, 1966 - The flag of Manitoba is proclaimed and raised for the first time. 

Prior to this, the province did not have a flag. The country recently dumped the Red Ensign in favour of the Maple Leaf design so the province adopted it in part to appease those who would be upset with the loss.

May 12, 1915 - Premier Rodmond Roblin resigns as the Royal Commission into the Manitoba Legislature Scandal finds that there was a misappropriation of funds. For more on the scandal.

 

May 12, 1989 - The Manitoba Legislature Building in Winnipeg is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 12, 1934 – Winnie the bear dies at the London Zoo at the age of 20.

A London celebrity in her own right, it was after her death that Winnie, short for Winnipeg, became famous as the inspiration for the literary character Winnie the Pooh. (Image source and a great Pooh history at Pooh Corner)

May 12, 1967 - Manitoba Conservation Officer William McLeod is shot by an impaired trapper. He died from complications resulting from the wound.

May 11: Brandon's first M.P.; Last of the horse-drawn streetcars.

May 11, 1948 - The Arden Camp Site in the R.M. of Lansdowne near Arden MB, is the first provincially designated heritage site.

May 11, 1948 - The Stott Mound and Camp Site near Brandon is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 11, 1948 - The Flee Island Dakota Entrenchment, R.M. of Whitehead near Portage la Prairie, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site .

May 11, 1894 - The last horse drawn streetcar runs on Winnipeg streets. For more on the early days of public transportation in Winnipeg.

May 11 1898 - D'Alton McCarthy, the first person elected to represent the Federal riding of Brandon, dies in Ontario dies in Ontario. The Irish-born lawyer was elected in both Brandon AND Simcoe North, Ontario in June 1896. He chose to sit as member for the latter which forced a by-election. (For more on his election.)

May 10: Waterfront Condos; Manitoba coat of Arms; Mayor Steen dies.

May 10, 1905 - Manitoba is granted her original coat of arms by King Edward VII. Initially it was just the shield with the bison. In October 1992 Governor General Hnatyshyn augmented it with the flora and fauna seen around it. 

May 10, 1989 - St. Paul's United Church, 590 Johnson Street in Boissevain, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 10, 1989 - La Chapelle de Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours, 80 rue St. Pierre, St. Norbert, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 10, 1979 - Robert A. Steen, Winnipeg's 46th Mayor dies of cancer just two years into his term.

 

May 10, 2005 - Ground is broken on The Excelsior, the first condo project along Waterfront Drive.

May 9: Arctic explorers feted; Seven Sisters generates; Headingley an R.M..

May 9, 1992 - After splitting from the City of Winnipeg, Headingley incorporates as a rural municipality.


May 9, 1931 - The Seven Sisters Generating Station begins operations. It was built by the Winnipeg Electric Company on the Winnipeg River 90 km N.E. of Winnipeg.

May 9, 1936 - Two Antarctic explorers arrive in Winnipeg en route to their respective home towns. Herbert Hollick-Kenyon and J.H. Lymburner, were part of flight team that was to circumnavigate and map the South Pole. Their plane went down in a storm and for seven weeks were not heard from. Winnipeggers lined the route from City Hall to the Legislature to catch a glimpse of them. More in this Montreal Gazette article.

May 8: Lockport "Japs" removed; who killed Major Tucker ?

May 8, 1931 - Major P. B. R. Tucker, manager of the Notre Dame and Sherbrook branch of the Dominion Bank, is shot and killed during a robbery.

Tucker was a career bank employee and respected veteran. He served in World War I, was wounded twice and received the Military Cross. He was buried with full military honors.

It is thought that his partial deafness due to his war injuries led to him being shot as he could not hear the order to put his hands in the air. For years, rumours swirled about who the daring bandits were and some men were questioned. In the end, however, nobody was ever arrested.

Winnipeg Tribune, May 8, 1942

May 8, 1942 - It is announced that Japanese Canadians who were expelled from their homes in B.C. and resettled near Lockport by the B.C. Security Commission are, again, to be moved after protests from local residents.

May 7: First "loonie"; Bank of Manitoba Bank opens; 'Peg's first radio station.

May 7, 1987 - The Winnipeg Mint hosts a first-striking ceremony for what would become known as the loonie.

May 8, 1922, Manitoba Free Press

May 7, 1922 - Winnipeg's first radio station CJCG, owned by the Free Press, goes on the air. The first broadcast was a mixture of live and recorded music with a ten-minute sermon on "God's Broadcasting."

For more on early Manitoba radio history. Also see Hammond Museum of Radio.

May 7, 1882 - The ‘Commercial Bank of Manitoba’ receives its charter. It would not last long, though. On July 2, 1893 the bank closed its doors.

May 6: Strike date set; Headingley's last streetcar; Original Pancake House.

May 6, 1919 - The Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council holds a vote to gauge whether or not other Winnipeg unions will participate in a sympathetic strike in support of the Metal Trades Council. The results (rounded off): Yeas: 11,000 Nays: 500.

A General Strike is set for 11 am, Thursday, May 15th.

May 6, 1930 - The last streetcar runs to Headingley. It is replaced by bus service.

May 6, 2008 - The Original Pancake House celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Wally Guberman opened the first restaurant in 1958.

May 6, 1974 - Les Lear is elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. After a career in the NFL he won three Grey Cup rings, with Winnipeg in '39 and '41 and with Calgary in '48, as a player-coach.

May 5: Winnipeg sinks; Father of superfluidity; Citadel opens.

May 5, 1977 - Stuart Garson, Manitoba's Premier from '43 to '48, dies.

May 5, 1826 - During the Red River Flood of 1826 an ice jam breaks and waters sweep away 47 houses, killing 5 colonists.

May 5, 1950 - Water breaks through Winnipeg's dikes and floods a quarter of the city. About 100,000 people have to be evacuated, the largest mass evacuation in Canadian history.

For great resources on the 1950 flood. Also see Tribune photos and the CBC radio archives' roundup of a half-dozen reports from correspondents covering the flood that day.

May 5, 1908 - Dr. John F. (Jack) Allen is born in Winnipeg.

Allen studied physics at the University of Manitoba, where his father was the first physics professor. He won a scholarship for his graduate studies at the University of Toronto and from there went on to Cambridge.

Allen had a long and distinguished career in science, most notably co-discoverering superfluidity. He died in the U.K. in April 2001.

May 5 1890 - The Salvation Army occupy their new Winnipeg Citadel at King and Rupert.

May 4: Pilot Mound; Centennial library opens; Assiniboine Park's roots; Wm. Ross dies.

May 4, 1904 - The Town of Pilot Mound is incorporated. The present site is the third location for the community. It moved from the original settlement site at Barbour Lake in 1901 to be atop a nearby natural mound. It moved again in 1904 when the CPR track was laid down a mile away.

May 4, 1977 - The Winnipeg Centennial Library officially opens. It was the city's main centennial project.

May 4, 1836 - The HBC acquires the Red River Colony from Lord Selkirk. Price: £15,000 !

May 4, 1904 - The City of Winnipeg Parks Board buys out the farm of John Smith in the R.M. of Tuxedo for $39,903. It would eventually be known as Assiniboine Park. For more on early parks in Winnipeg.

May 4, 1945 - The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #162 in Langruth receives its charter. For more on the town's war service.

May 4, 1856 - William Ross, pioneer and first postmaster for Red River, dies. Shortly before his death Ross House in Point Douglas was completed. William Avenue is named for him.

May 3: First ship through Lockport; Doug Henning; Manitoba named; "Kris Kringle" dies.

May 3, 1910 - The Alberta is the first commercial ship to navigate through the St. Andrews Locks and Dam at Lockport. It would be officially opened by Wilfred Laurier in July.

The structure is a National Historic Site and Canadian Society for Civil Engineering National Heritage Site.

May 3, 1964 - Ron Hextall is born in Brandon

May 3, 1947 - Doug Henning is born in Winnipeg. As a teenager living in Oakville, Ontario he began performing magic tricks and pursued that profession over medical school.

May 3, 1870 - Speaking to his Manitoba Act on the floor of the House of Commons, George Etienne Cartier tells the members: "The name of the new province will be Manitoba, a very euphonious word meaning The God That Speaks." For more on Manitoba's name.

May 3, 1960 - Christopher "Kris Kringle" Kendall dies. He sold newspapers at the corner of Portage and Main for 25 years. His friendly demeanor and resemblance to Santa Claus made him a local institution.

May 2 - The first "Bay Day"

May 2, 1670 - King Charles II grants a Royal Charter for the Hudson's Bay Company, creating a commercial empire that continues through to today.

The company's archives are located at the Manitoba Provincial Archives building.

May 1 - Free Press makes radio history; Phantom ends; BTO's first album.

May 1, 1975 - At 10 pm the final screening of the Phantom of the Paradise at the Garrick Cinema. The movie began its run on Boxing Day 1974. For more on Winnipeg's connection to Phantom.

May 1, 1988 - Peter Mansbridge takes over from Knowlton Nash as anchor and chief correspondent of CBC’s The National.

Mansbridge was born in England and raised in Malaysia and Ottawa but does have a Manitoba connection. When discharged from the Navy at Churchill, he took a job making cargo flight announcements at the Churchill airport. A CBC Radio producer heard his voice and offered him a job as a DJ at the local station. That job led to news announcing and, well, the rest is history.

Also see 20 years in the chair - CBC News.

May 1, 1922 - The first private broadcast radio licence in Canada is issued for CJCG, owned by the Manitoba Free Press. On May 7 CJCG went on the air. (I have read earlier dates for experimental broadcasts but this is the date of the 'official' CJCG sign on).

A claim to fame for the Free Press’ CJCG is that it is believed to be the first station to live- broadcast an entire hockey game: The Falcons vs. Port Arthur from the Winnipeg Amphitheatre on February 22, 1923.

The Free Press’ CJCG and the Winnipeg Tribune’s CJNC both lost money throughout their respective runs and in 1923 surrendered their licences to the Manitoba Telephone System for the creation of CKY Radio (Winnipeg) and CKX Radio (Brandon).

For more on early Manitoba radio history. Also see Hammond Museum of Radio.

May 1, 1876 - The name of the Fort Garry post office is changed to 'Winnipeg' to reflect the name of the city.

May 1, 1876 - The name of the St. Peters post office is changed to 'Dynevor'.

May 1, 1973 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive release their first album. The first single was Let it Ride.

May 1, 2004 - Lloyd Axworthy becomes the U of W's sixth President and Vice-Chancellor.

May 1, 2005 – The Northern States Power Co. (NSP) of Minneapolis announces the purchase of 500 MW of hydro over a 10 year period from Manitoba Hydro.

May 1, 1986 - The Virden Municipal Building and Auditorium, 228 Wellington Street, Virden, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 1, 1986 - The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, Cooks Creek, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 1, 1985 - The Captain William Kennedy House, 417 River Road, R.M. of St. Andrews, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 1, 1985 - The Emerson Town Hall and Court House, l04 Church Street, Emerson, is designated a Provincial Heritage Site.

May 1, 1997 - The Red River crests in downtown Winnipeg at 7.49 metres James (only 0.6 m below dike levels). On its way to Winnipeg the flood displaced 27,000 residents, deployed 7,000 troops and laid five million sandbags. CBC Archives: Red River Rising)

 May 1, 1962 - The Manitoba Tartan, approved by the Lord Lyon King at Arms, guardian of Scottish Heraldry, is registered in Scotland as the official tartan of the province.

May 1-2, 1892 - The Princess Opera House at 96 Princess at Bannatyne burns, destroying three acres, about 18 buildings, in downtown Winnipeg. (See N.Y. Times story - pdf) 

May 1, 1962 - Roblin, MB is officially incorporated as a town, though settlement in the area dates back to the late 1800’s.

May 1, 1913 - Winnipeggers vote in favour of funding the Winnipeg Aqueduct. Final vote yeas: 2226, nays: 369.

May 1, 1918 - The first gas powered bus hits the streets in Winnipeg (on the Westminster route).

May 1, 1919 - The building and metal workers unions launch a strike in Winnipeg seeking an 8 hour work day. (Also see my 1919 blog).

April 30: Brandon's last streetcar; CKUW goes public; Mint's coin facility opens.

April 30, 1932 - Citing a lack of funds, the City of Brandon pulls the plug on the Brandon Municipal Railway that had operated in the city since the summer of 1913. It left the city without any form of public transportation for months until a private company offered a bus service. (Click image for source.)

The last known Brandon Streetcar is awaiting restoration at the Edmonton Radial Rail Society.

April 30, 1976 - The Royal Canadian Mint opens their Winnipeg facility for the bulk production of coins and metals. For tours.

April 30, 1984 – An ice storm brings down 12 transmission towers and more than 3,000 hydro poles down in Central and Southern Manitoba.

April 30 1999 - CKUW, the U of W's campus radio station, officially signs on the public airwaves at midnight. The station began in 1968 as an in-house campus radio station.

April 29: Maurice Strong; Alice Leone Mitchell.

April 29, 1929 - Maurice F. Strong is born in Oak Lake, Manitoba.

An industrialist, environmentalist and diplomat with numerous UN postings dating back to 1972, he is considered to be one of Canada's most influential people on the world stage. (Also see.)

April 29, 1946 - Alice Leone Mitchell dies. She came to Winnipeg in 1912 to open a school for oratory and drama. One of her more celebrated students was Marshall McLuhan. For more on Mitchell.

April 28: Jets' last game; Brandon Strikes; Treherne burns; Expo '67 opens.

April 28, 1967 - Expo '67 opens in Montréal. It's not really a Manitoba event but many Manitobans went ! The four Western provinces shared a pavilion.
 

April 28, 1996 - The Winnipeg Jets play their final game in front of 15,567 fans at the Winnipeg Arena. They lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.

April 28, 1881 - Stock begins selling in the newly incorporated Winnipeg Street Railway Company. It sold out within an hour. For more on early transportation in Winnipeg nd image source see this MHS essay.

April 28, 1919 - Workers in Brandon hold a city-wide "sympathetic strike" for their colleagues in Winnipeg. They assembled at city hall in what the Brandon Sun called
“... the biggest gathering of labour ever held in the city”. For more on Brandon’s 1919 labour unrest.

April 30, 1890 Winnipeg Free Press

April 28, 1890 -A devastating fire in Treherne razes the commercial block from Broadway to Griffin Street. News reports said that arson was suspected as two previous attempts were made to burn buildings down the day before. Two were arrested, though it appears were released in May. 

Here's what the main street looked like the year before the fire  and nineteen years later.

April 28, 1919 - Work starts on the new Maryland Bridge.