October 14: Father of the CFL; West End Library; John Pritchard.

October 14, 1979 - The Winnipeg Jets win their first-ever NHL regular season game becoming the first of the WHL expansion teams to do so.  Coach Don McVie’s Jets beat Don Cherry’s Colorado Rockies 4-2 in front of a home crowd at the Winnipeg Arena. The game winner was scored by Jude Drouin.

West End Library
October 14, 1966 - Mayor Juba officially opens the West End branch of the Winnipeg Public Library on Ellice Avenue. 

October 14, 1966 - Photo of U of M looking north, looking south west.

October 14, 1874 – The newly created Winnipeg city council holds its first money plebiscite. It was to obtain a $25k line of credit to purchase fire engines and related fire equipment. It passed !

 October 14, 1856 - John Pritchard, (1777-1856), is buried. The British-born pioneer came to Manitoba around 1805 with what would become the North West Company. In 1822 he was appointed the Councillor of Assiniboia.

Lord Kitchener School at Henderson Highway and Whellams Lane underwent an expansion in 1967 and was renamed John Pritchard School. it was fitting as the building sits on land that was once part of his homestead. Pritchard Avenue is also named for him.


October 14, 1941 - Sgt-Pilot Leslie Falardeau is killed in action. Months before enlisting he worked as an assistant and body double for actor Raymond Massey during the filming of 49th Parallel. He died before the Oscar-winning movie was released.