FAMOUS WINNIPEGGERS AND OTHER MANITOBANS

Many famous people, past and present, have come from or to Winnipeg and other places in Manitoba.

This list in no way claims to be definitive; it is simply another part of my little effort to let the world know what we have to offer.

Submissions for additional entries gratefully accepted at: rmmark@canada.com

Updated: March 6, 2004


The Guess Who - Winnipeg Rock Band - formed by Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman Burton Cummings - singer and songwriter went on to a solo career Bachman-Turner-Overdrive - Formed by Randy Bachman after he left the Guess Who
Doug Henning, born in Winnipeg - has been acclaimed as one of the greatest magicians of modern times. Cancer ended his life at age 52, February 7, 2000 Deanna Durbin - Real name-Edna Mae Durbin, born 14 December, 1921, Winnipeg-By fourteen she was the most highly paid female star in the world. Richard Condie and Cordell Barker, cartoonists, have each received Academy Award nominations for "The Big Snit", "La Salla" and "The Cat Came Back", respectively.
Tommy Douglas, father of Medicare in Canada, was born in Scotland and raised in Winnipeg. He gained a reputation by the age of 19 as a Baptist minister in Austin, and earned a bachelor's degree at Brandon College. Scientist Margaret Newton in 1925 was appointed head of the new Dominion Rust Research Laboratory at the University of Manitoba. She became the best-known Canadian expert in stem rust, a fungus which destroys wheat crops. Winnipeg-born author Alfred van Vogt, named a grandmaster of the genre by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America - its highest honour - in 1997 for blazing a trail for Alien films.

Raised in Winnipeg, Brendan Fehr, co-star of tv show Roswell
Anna Paquin, actress, Oscar winner - date of birth: 24 July, 1982 - Winnipeg Jack Carson (1910 - 1963), movie actor - born John Elmer Carson on October 27, 1910, in Carman Dean Gunnarson - Winnipeg escape artist, set 3 Guinness Book Records for escaping from handcuffs and locked coffins
Len Cariou-born 30 September, 1939, Winnipeg-Accomplished Broadway stage actor whose best-known roles include Frederick in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and Sweeney Todd in SWEENEY TODD, among others.

Todd MacCulloch, first Winnipeg high school grad ever to play in the NBA; selected to the 2000 All-Rookie Team. His five-year career was cut short by a foot neuropathy believed to be Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome.

Winnipeg born and raised Ken Kostick, host of top-rated What's For Dinner on Life Network and author of 3 bestselling cookbooks

The Wyrd Sisters - unique singers - trio of Nancy Reinhold, Kim Baryluk and Lianne Fournier from Winnipeg

Winkler-born bassist Phillip Ens, making his debut at the Metropolitan Opera on Feb.3/00 and upcoming performances at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, and the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.

Guy Maddin - filmmaker - born 28 February, 1956 - Winnipeg
Margaret Laurence (1926-1987)-Author, born as Jean Margaret Wemys in Neepawa -A Jest of God (1966) won the Governor General's Award, filmed as Rachel, Rachel (1968). The Diviners (1974) won the Governor General's Award, filmed in 1993. (1995) Winner of the Telluride lifetime achievement award.

Charles Thorason - Winnipeg's own - designed and christened Bugs Bunny

Winnipeg's Kelly Stefanyshyn, winner of the Women's 200-metre backstroke title for 1999-2000 on the World Cup circuit.
David Steinburg - comedian/actor - born 9 August, 1942, Winnipeg

Carol Shields (? - ) novelist, playwright, poet, critic - born in Chicago, grew up in Oak Park, Illinois - lived in Canada since the 1950's; lived in Winnipeg from 1980 to 1999. Was Chancellor and Professor at the University of Manitoba. Her novel The Stone Diaries was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, received the Governor's General Award and the Pulitzer Prize

The late Lenny Breau, world-reknown guitarist
Speed skater Susan Auch, born and raised in the Transcona area of Winnipeg. In 1995 she established the Canadian 500 record at a scorching 38.94 seconds, becoming only the second woman in the world to crack the 39 second barrier. She also won her first World Cup race that year. Highlights of her career include: silver medal - 500m - 1998 Nagano Olympic Games; silver medal - 500m - 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Games; bronze medal - short track - 1988 Calgary Olympic Games.

Gabrielle Roy, author - The Tin Flute - born in St. Boniface, March 22, 1909
Fred Penner - family entertainer - Recipient of the Order of Canada, the highest recognition bestowed on a Canadian citizen. The University of Winnipeg bestowed an honourary doctor of laws degree upon him for contributions toward the education of children.

Ed Evanko, Broadway singer, Sunset Blvd, with Glenn Close

Physicist John F. (Jack)Allen, born 1908 in Winnipeg, co-discoverer of superfluidity.
James Ehnes Violinist James Ehnes born 1976, Brandon. Began violin studies age four; at nine, became a protégé of noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin. Graduated from Juilliard in 1997, winning Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in Music. 1987 winner of grand prize in strings - Canadian Music Competition. 1988 winner First Prize in strings, Canadian Music Festival, youngest musician ever to do so. Orchestral solo debut at the age of thirteen with Montreal Symphony Orchestra; subsequent concert engagements throughout Canada, the US, Europe, South America, and Asia. 1994 winner Canada Council Competition for the loan of its 1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivarius violin, and selected by US Society for Strings as the first ever recipient of the $25,000 Ivan Galamian Memorial Award. Recipient of Canada Council for the Arts 1997 Virginia Parker Prize. Tom Jackson - singer, actor - born in Saskatchewan and raised in Winnipeg

Lila Bell Acheson Wallace, who, along with her husband, DeWitt Wallace, founded the Reader's Digest in 1922, was born in Virden.

tv and movie actor Scott Bairstow from Steinbach, roles in tv series Lonesome Dove and Party of Five

Singer Ma-Anne Dionisio, lead role of Kim in Miss Saigon in Toronto and in Sydney, Australia

Late great Chicago Blackhawk Billy Mosienko scored three goals in 21 seconds on March 23, 1952, vs. the New York Rangers.
The Crash Test Dummies: Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, Mitch Dorge, and Ben Darvill - unique rock singers

Ken Ploen First-team All-American QB 1956; MVP Big Ten conference and Iowa football team 1956, Rose Bowl Champs 1957; eleven years for Winnipeg Blue Bombers, CFL, all-pro 1957, '59, '65, and led team to four CFL Grey Cup titles in six games; member of CFL Hall of Fame, National Iowa Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame. Resides in Winnipeg.

cyclist Clara Hughes, 1996 Olympic double bronze medalist
Cyclist Tanya Dubnicoff 1998 Gold-medal sprint victory, XVI Commonwealth Games; 1997 World Cup - Australia - Sprint - 1st, Intercontinental de Pista - Havana Cuba - Sprint - 1st; 1996 Intercontinental de Pista - Havana Cuba - Sprint - 1st; 1995 Pan American Games - Sprint - 1st; 1994 Commonwealth Games - Victoria - Sprint - 1st, World Cup - Overall - Sprints - 2nd, World Cup - Colorada Springs - Sprint - 1st, World Cup - France - Sprint - 3rd,Grand Prix - Germany - Sprint - 1st;1993 World Championships - Hamar Norway - Sprint - 1st, World Cup Champion - Sprint - 1st

Behavioral Psychologist Doreen Kimura, world expert on sex differences in the human brain.
Terry Sawchuk was born in Winnipeg, and is considered by many to be the greatest goalie in the history of league hockey. Won the Vezina Trophy three out of five seasons, being beaten out by only a single goal in the other two. Received the Calder Trophy and was named to the All Star team his rookie season. Signed to a professional contract with the Detroit Red Wings as 17-year old. His 103 shutouts record has yet to be challenged. He had 435 wins during his 20 seasons with the NHL. His introduction into the Hockey Hall of Fame was the quickest of any player, prior to the induction of Wayne Gretzky in 1999. He was enshrined the year after his death, May 31, 1970, after a month in the hospital, of a pulmonary embolism. He was 40 years old. Winnipeg soprano Tracy Dahl has performed with New York's Metropolitan Opera, The San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Washington Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Chatelet in Paris, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, and of course, our own Manitoba Opera. She has appeared with every major symphony across Canada, sung with Placido Domingo, and starred in dozens of major productions throughout North America.

Emma Robinson, reigning two-time world champion in pairs rowing, won a silver medal in 1996 Olympics with Canada's women eight's crew.

Neil Young, rock n' roll great, from Winnipeg
Skip Connie Laliberte won the 1984 Women's World Curling Championship. She has been the Canadian Champion in 1984, 1992, and 1995. Manitoba Champion in 1980, 1984, 1992, 1995, and 1999. Skip Kerry Burtnyk won the 1995 Men's World Curling Championship. He was the Canadian Champion in 1981 and 1995, and the Manitoba Champion in 1981, 1988 and 1995. 1996 Men's World Curling Champion Skip Jeff Stoughton was Canadian Champion in 1996 and 1999, Manitoba Champion in 1991, 1996, 1999 and 2000, and Mixed Canadian Champion in 1988 and 1991.
Skip Don Duiguid accomplished what no one has been able to match since - he was the last to win two Men's World Curling Championships in back to back years - 1970 and 1971. He was the Canadian Champion in 1965, 1970 and 1971; Manitoba Champion in 1957, 1965, 1970 and 1971; Senior Provincial Champion in 1992, 1994 and 1995.

A hot-bed of curling, Manitoba swept all four major Canadian Championships on two occasions, winning the Men's, Women's, Junior Men's and Junior Women's in 1984 and 1995. 1984 also saw the Senior Men's title come to Manitoba.
Rower Colleen Miller, from Matlock, Man., won three world championships with partner Wendy Wiebe of St. Catharines in women's lightweight double sculls in the early 1990s.

Third baseman Corey Koskie, from Anola, Man., named to the 1999 Topps All-Rookie team; hit .300 in 325 at bats with Minnesota Twins.
Singer Chantal Kreviazuk born on May 18th, 1973 in Winnipeg. Debuted with her CD 'Under These Rocks And Stones' which was released October 8th, 1996.

Cartoonists Susan Kelso and Carol Kemp, creators of the comic Horrorscope.

Actor Donnelly Rhodes was born in Winnipeg

Winnipegger Beth Torbert, better known as Bif Naked, alternate rock singer

Loreena McKennitt - singer - born and raised in Morden, Manitoba

Mimi Kuzyk - tv actress - born and raised in Winnipeg
Internationally recognized sculptor and artist Leo Mol emigrated to Canada and made his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1989, he was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his artistic contributions to his adopted country. More information is available on my Winnipeg Arts Page.


Former Winnipeg actor Adam Beach is poised to make a major career breakthrough this summer. He will begin filming the movie The Adventures of Joe Dirt with David Spade May 18 in Los Angeles, and will co-star with Nicholas Cage in John Woo's Windtalkers, with filming to begin mid-August in Hawaii.


Monty Hall - tv host - Let's Make a Deal - born 25 August, 1923 - Winnipeg
Internationally acclaimed Evelyn Hart is truly a Canadian legend. In 1980, Hart won a Bronze medal in the World Ballet Concours in Japan. Shortly after that she became the first Canadian to be awarded a Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as the rarely awarded Certificate of Exceptional Artistic Achievement. More information is available at my Evelyn Hart page.

Winnipeg native Tyler Brule, founder and editorial director of Wallpaper magazine, lives in London, and is now trying his hand at sports with the glossy quarterly, Line. Wallpaper is a magazine about the lifestyle many think they'd like to have, featuring the best in fashion, architecture, furniture, travel; Line advises readers on which sports are chic and what to wear while playing.
Clothing manufacturer Peter Nygard, of Tan Jay, alia, Bianca Nygard, and Nygard Collection. Clothing manufacturer and restaurateurAsh Modha, founder of Mondetta Clothing and Mondetta World Cafe. Abe Yanofsky, a chess child prodigy at age 11 and eight-time Canadian chess champion became Canada's first chess grandmaster in 1964. He was recognized with an Order of Canada in 1972.
WWI Fighter Ace William George "Billy" Barker, awarded the VC, DSO*, MC**, CdeG, and Star of Valour (It), was born in Dauphin on Nov. 3, 1894 Lynn Johnston was in the process of moving to Lynn Lake when she was contacted by Universal Press and offered a contract for her For Better or For Worse comic strip Group of Seven member, Francis Hans Johnston, 1888 - 1949, moved to Winnipeg in 1921 to accept the position of principal of the School of Art
Sir William Stephenson, WWII spy; the real Intrepid, portrayed by actor David Niven in "A Man Called Intrepid", was born in Winnipeg

Due to the efforts of the Souris Valley's Nellie McClung, along with the other members of the "Famous Five", women won the right to vote in Manitoba in 1916, the first Canadian province to do so.
Gisele Mackenzie, born in Winnipeg, one of the first Candian singers to appear regularly on American tv, and hosted her own tv show for two years

Entrepreneur Rod Bruinooge, founder of Abject Modernity Creations, inventor of the internet mystery game The Stone.
Garth Pischke, former volleyball player and current coach of the National Men's Volleyball Team; a recent inductee to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame; was born and still resides in Winnipeg

Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald, the only western Canadian painter to become a member of the Group of Seven



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