December 19: John Osborn V.C.; McMicken is mayor; Hydro's new HQ.

December 19, 1941 - During the Battle of Hong Kong, Sergeant-Major John Robert Osborn of the Winnipeg Grenadiers throws himself on a live grenade. It killed him instantly but saved the lives of many of his men. 

In April 1946 it was announced that he was to be awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously, his wife and six children accepted it on his behalf. Osborn was Winnipeg's only Victoria Cross recipient of World War II.

See his Heritage Minute and Veterans' Affairs bio.

December 19, 2003 - Manitoba Hydro announces the winning site for their new headquarters: on Portage Avenue between Carlton and Edmonton Streets. The 700,000 sq ft building opened in September 2009. (For an architectural review of the building.)
December 19, 1894 – Alexander McMicken defeats Thomas Gilroy to become Mayor of Winnipeg. The New York Times wrote the following day “McMicken was the workingmen’s candidate, while Gilroy was that of the capitalists.”