MHS Archives: History in Manitoba Parks

Please note: This list is a work in progress and information will be added as it becomes available. Send corrections and updates to webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.

Name begins: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Park Name	Address	Comments
Alexander Ridge	RM of Thompson	Named for educator and conservationist Donald James Alexander
Alexandra	Winnipeg	See Johnston Park
Alex Bridge	685 Dalhousie Drive, Winnipeg	Named for Fort Garry municipal official and community activist Alexander James Dryton Bridge
Amber Vasas	63 Callum Crescent, Winnipeg	Named for accident victim Amber Mary Vasas (1982-1991)
Anderson	900 Raleigh Street, Winnipeg	Named for horticulturist Edwin Alexander Anderson
Andrew Currie	1420 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg	Named for educator, athlete, and civil servant Andrew “Andy” Currie
Andrew Mynarski VC	Winnipeg	Named for war hero Andrew Charles Mynarski
Apee Panchhi	Winnipeg	Named for realtor Apee Panchhi
Archambault	224 Rutledge Crescent, Winnipeg	Named for community activists Geoff and Regan Archambault
Art McOuat	910 Maginot Street, Winnipeg	Named for community activist and municipal official Martin Arthur “Art” McOuat
Arthur E. Christensen	Mariners Trail, West St. Paul	Formerly Rivers Edge Park, it was renamed for municipal official Arthur Edward Christensen
B
Beauchemin	67 Elmvale Crescent, Winnipeg	Named for pioneer Jean Baptiste Beauchemin and his descendants
Benjaminson	Assiniboine Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for early pioneer and contractor Skuli Benjaminson
Benson	Winnipeg	At the southwestern corner of McMillan Avenue and Cockburn Street; named for long-time residents of the Fort Rouge neighbourhood, Edward Joseph “Ed” Benson and his wife, Marjorie Elizabeth Benson (c1907-1994)
Beryl Watts	1295 Salter Street, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Eunice Beryl Routley Watts
Billy McCann	Day Street, Winnipeg	Named for airman William Alexander “Billy” McCann (1921-1942)
Birds Hill	Springfield	Named for members of the Bird family who pioneered in this region
Bruce	1966 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for early resident Peter Bruce
Burton Cummings	Winnipeg	Named for musician Burton Cummings
C
C. H. McFadyen	416 Assiniboine Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for building contractor Charles Holmes McFadyen
Carey	Kingston Row, Winnipeg	Named for St. Vital municipal official and naturalist Harold Eric Carey
Centennial	Willis Road, West St. Paul	Formerly Willis Road Park, it was renamed as part of 100th municipal anniversary celebrations
Chester Square	Winnipeg	Named for the Chester family who ran a general store at the corner of Elmhurst Street and Roblin Boulevard, along with the Varsity View post office; see also Tom Chester Park
Chochinov	103 Garden Park Drive, Winnipeg	Named for dairy farmers Jacob Lazer “Yankel” Chochinov (1885-1979) and his wife, Tauba “Fanny” Mazarsky (c1889-?)
Chornick	Winnipeg	Named for community activist Steve Chornick
Clara Hughes	400 Matheson Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for Olympian Clara Hughes
Clark	Winnipeg	Named for physician Charles Whitfield Clark
D
Daly Gardens	Winnipeg	Named for businessman Denis Daly
Darwin	Winnipeg	See Wayne Ruff Park
Dave Abel	430 Harold Avenue East, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Dave Abel
David Johnston	Ness Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for school board trustee David Johnston
Dean Finlay	Winnipeg	Named for educator John Dean Finlay, it was dedicated and opened officially on 17 October 1997. Dignitaries attending the ceremony included Mayor Susan Thompson, Councillor Al Golden, and St. Vital MLA Shirley Render. The park is adjacent to the Community Centre that Finlay helped to found, and Windsor School where he taught. [1]
De Graaf	Reg Wyatt Way, Winnipeg	Commemorates the De Graaf [De Graff] family which homesteaded and farmed in what is now the Harbourview South neighbourhood
De Groot	Winnipeg	Named for Albert “Al” de Groot (1922-1962) and his brother Arthur “Art” de Groot (1924-1996)
Don Gerrie	80 Churchill Drive Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Donald Ira “Don” Gerrie
Don Smith	Winnipeg	Named for community activist, municipal official, athlete and coach Donald Beresford “Don” Smith, this 9.6-acre site was opened officially on 26 September 1991
Dr. Jim Shaver	44 Barber Street, Winnipeg	Named for cleric James M. “Jim” Shaver
Dr. Jose Rizal	111 Sewa Crescent, Winnipeg	Named for Filipino icon Dr. Jose P. Rizal (1861-1896)
Dr. Louis Slotin	Luxton Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for atomic scientist Louis Slotin
Dr. Morley R. Kare	115 North Meadow Road, Winnipeg	Named for nutritional researcher Morley Richard Kare
Ducharme	Winnipeg	Commemorates the public service of Jean-Louis Ducharme and his sons Albert Louis Ducharme and Gerald Ducharme
Dufferin	605 Alexander Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for Lord Dufferin, Governor-General of Canada from 1872 to 1878, who visited Winnipeg with his wife in 1877
Duff Roblin	Winnipeg	Named for politican Dufferin Roblin
E
Edward Shindleman	Park Place West, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Edward “Eddie” Shindleman
El Tassi	100 Elmwood Road, Winnipeg	Named in 2015 for businessman Abdo “Albert” El Tassi and his wife Samira
Elva Fletcher	Osborne Street, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Elva Fletcher
Elzear Goulet	Tache Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for Metis leader Elzéar Goulet
Enderton	11 Ruskin Row, Winnipeg	Named for realtor Charles Henry Enderton, it is known unofficially as Peanut Park
Erlandson	82 Cortez Bay, Winnipeg	Named for a nearby street
Ernie O’Dowda	Midwinter Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for sports activist Ernie O’Dowda
F
Florence Pierce	780 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg	Named for teacher and municipal official Florence Pierce
Frank Whyte	Winnipeg	Probably named for businessman Frank Henderson Whyte
Fred Byle	Shaw Road, West St. Paul	Named for municipal official Fred Byle
Frederick Heubach	Park Boulevard North, Winnipeg	Named for real estate developer Frederick William Heubach
Frog Plain	Frog Plain Way, Winnipeg
G
Garbage Hill	Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg	Unofficial name for Westview Park
Gary Hobson	1945 Woodgrove Street, Winnipeg	Named for the Fort Garry municipal official and community activist Gary Ross Hobson
George Heshka	Burrows Street, Winnipeg	Named for education George Nicholos Heshka
George Olive	855 McMeans Avenue East, Winnipeg	Named for MLA and Transcona Mayor George Edward Olive
Gerald James Lynch	Winnipeg	Named for community activist Gerald James Lynch
Gerry Kuik	64 Rizzuto Bay, Winnipeg	Named for Transcona businessmen and community activist Gerry Kuik
Gladys Bunn	735 Haney Street, Winnipeg	Named for music teacher Gladys Adele Bunn
Glenn McWhinney	401 Linden Avenue, Winnipeg	Formerly known as Roch-Lin Park, it was renamed for athlete and community activist Glenn “Keeper” McWhinney
Gord Dong	348 Pacific Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Gord Dong
Guay	Winnipeg	Named for pioneer Abraham Guay
H
Hal Rogers	Winnipeg	Named for Canadian Kinsman founder Harold Allin Rogers (1899-1994)
Halter	Raglan Road, Winnipeg	Named for businessman Maurice Halter
Hap Hopkinson	1043 Manhattan Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Harry “Hap” Hopkinson
Harry Paul	780 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Henry Southwood Paul, later renamed Florence Pierce Park
Helen Promislow	295 Kingsbury Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Helen Promislow
Helene Marsh	224 Hatcher Road, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Helene Beghin Marsh
Henri Boux	Avenue de l’Eglise, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Henri Boux
Hethrington	Winnipeg	See Will and Jeanine Richard
Hewitt	45 Hewitt Crescent, Winnipeg
Hyland	East St. Paul	Named for Winnipeg entrepreneur John Leonard Hyland
I
Inderjit Claire	Winnipeg	Named for educator and community activist Inderjit Singh Claire
Isobel Melville	220 Heartstone Drive, Winnipeg	Named for Isobel Melville, long-time curator of the Transcona Museum
J
J. Frank Johnston	2050 Ness Avenue, Winnipeg	Formerly known as Mandeville Park, it was renamed for St. James Alderman, Deputy Mayor of Winnipeg, and MLA John Franklin “Frank” Johnston
J. M. McGeachan	25 Bayview Drive, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official John McKenzie “Jock” McGeachan
Jacob Penner	Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Jacob Penner
Jae Eadie	125 Parkside Drive, Winnipeg	Named for municipal councilor Jae Eadie
Jill Officer	1410 Rothesay Street, Winnipeg	This River East arena/splashpad was renamed for athlete Jill Officer, a former resident of the neighbourhood who was a member of the 2014 Canadian Olympic Championship Women’s Curling Team at Sochi, Russia. The park renaming was announced at a ceremony on 14 June 2014. [2]
Jinnah	335 Stan Bailie Drive, Winnipeg	Named for Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), the founder of Pakistan
Joe Malone	45 Boulton Bay, Winnipeg	Formerly known as Kenaston Park, in 1982 it was renamed in commemoration of Joe Malone, who coached hockey and soccer at the Sir John Franklin Community Club [4]
John De Graff	1024 Louelda Street, Winnipeg	Named for market gardener and North Kildonan municipal councillor John De Graff
John Dickson	1400 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg	Named for North Kildonan Mayor John Dickson
John Steel	Winnipeg	Named for municipal official John Donald Steel
John Yuzyk	Winnipeg	Named for community activist John Yuzyk
Johnston	William Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for lawyer Arthur Eaton Johnston
Jules Mager	River Road, Winnipeg	Named for market gardener and municipal official Jules Henry Mager
Jurkowski	722 Melrose Avenue West, Winnipeg	Formerly known as Melrose Park, this park was renamed on 17 April 1993 to commemorate the volunteerism and community service of Polish immigrants Joseph Jurkowski (c1892-1962), Kazimira Jurkowski (1898-1977), and their family
K
King Edward	709 Manhattan Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for the British monarch King Edward VII (1841-1910)
Kirkbridge	Bairdmore Boulevard, Winnipeg
Kitchener	Wyatt Road, Winnipeg	Named for British military commander Horatio Herbert Kitchener (1850-1916)
Kiwanis Happyland	520 Marion Street, Winnipeg
L
Lagimodiere-Gaboury	Winnipeg	Named for pioneers Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière and Marie Anne Gaboury
Lake Shirley	Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Shirley Timm-Rudolph
Leon Bell	Winnipeg	Named for musician and pharmacist Leon Bell
Louis Greenburgh	Scotia Street, Winnipeg	Named for Louis Greenburgh, a probation officer and one of Canada’s more decorated Second World War pilots
M
Mandeville	2050 Ness Avenue, Winnipeg	Renamed J. Frank Johnston Park
Marj Edey	911 Fairmont Road, Winnipeg	Named for golfer Marjorie Isabel “Marj” Edey
Martin	551 Machray Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. Martin who was killed in a military training accident on 9 June 1969
Matt Jonsson	Sturgeon Road, Winnipeg	Named for skateboarder Matt Jonsson (1996-2021) who died tragically
McBeth	Winnipeg	Named for pioneer Alexander McBeth
McKittrick	790 Rathgar Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for real estate developer Martin Thomas McKittrick
Melrose	Winnipeg	Renamed to Jurkowski Park
Merle Guberman	West Taylor Boulevard, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Merle Guberman
Michael Hrushovetz	Gateway Road, Winnipeg	Named for North Kildonan market gardener Michael Hrushovetz
Michaelle Jean	Beaconsfield Street, Winnipeg	Formerly Norquay Park, it was renamed for Michaelle Jean, the 27th Governor-General of Canada
Midwinter	Stadacona Street, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Charles Midwinter
Milne	Dunnottar	Named for community activist William George Milne
Morantz	65 Clayton Drive, Winnipeg	Named for the Morantz family
Morrissette	Winnipeg	Named for the Morrissette family of Charleswood
Moug	34 Lannoo Drive, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official and MLA Arthur Thomas “Art” Moug and his ancestors who settled in Charleswood
Munson	475 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg	Named for lawyer John Henry Munson
N
Neil Bardal	Winnipeg	Named for undertaker Neil Ofeigur Bardal
Nellie McClung	Wolseley Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for feminist and politician Nellie Letitia McClung
Norquay	Beaconsfield Street, Winnipeg	Named for early Manitoba Premier John Norquay, it was renamed Michaelle Jean Park
O
Oscar Paulson	Winnipeg	Named for building contractor Oscar Paulson
P
Pat Phillips	Winnipeg	Named for community activist Pat Thomas Phillips
Paulicello	163 Robson Street, Winnipeg	Named for the Paulicello family of Transcona for their contributions to the community
Peanut	11 Ruskin Row, Winnipeg	Unofficial name for Enderton Park
Pollock Island	St. Pierre Street, Winnipeg	Named for Edward Pollock and his mother Tina Pollock
Q
R
Riccardo De Thomasis	Winnipeg	Known formerly as Ashworth Park, it was renamed for soccer player, coach and mentor Riccardo De Thomasis (1979-2013)
Rivers Edge	Mariners Trail, West St. Paul	It was renamed Arthur E. Christensen Park
Ron Duhamel	Winnipeg	Named for politician Ronald J. Duhamel
Ronald Houston	Winnipeg	Named for Winnipeg Police Department Detective Ronald Edward “Sam” Houston
Roosevelt	Winnipeg	Named for the 32nd American President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), the park was established in November 1942 with amenities added the following year [3]
Roy Davis	475 Thames Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for community activist Roy Davis
S
Scurfield	Scurfield Boulevard, Winnipeg	Named for real estate developer Ralph Thomas Scurfield and educator Jack Milburn Scurfield
Shevchenko	Burrows Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861)
Shirley Render	185 River Road, Winnipeg	Named for MLA and aviation pioneer Shirley Hurst Render
Simkin	193 Watson Street, Winnipeg	Named for nearby Simkin Drive
Sir John Franklin	Winnipeg	Named for explorer Sir John Franklin
Sir Winston Churchill	150 John Duncan Drive, Winnipeg	Named for British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Stanley Knowles	Logan Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for long-serving parliamentarian Stanley Howard Knowles
Stephen Juba	Waterfront Drive, Winnipeg	Named for municipal politician Stephen Juba
Susan Auch	Wayota Street, Winnipeg	Named for athlete Susan Auch
T
T. R. Hodgson	Winnipeg	Named for civil servant Thomas Rupert Hodgson
Ted Jones	Winnipeg	Named for Lord Roberts Community Centre Sports Director, Edward Owen “Ted” Jones (c1925-1964)
Thelma J. Call	1950 Chancellor Drive, Winnipeg	Named for educator Thelma Jean Opseth Call
Theodore Niizhotay	Winnipeg	Formerly Wellington Park, it was renamed in November 2022 for Theodore “Ted” Fontaine
Thomas Armstrong	Munroe Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for East Kildonan municipal official Thomas Armstrong
Thomas F. Copeland	300 Larche Avenue West, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Thomas F. Copeland
Toilers	46 Riverside Drive, Winnipeg	Named for the Winnipeg Toilers Basketball Club
Tokarz	840 Beecher Avenue, Winnipeg	Born at Poland in 1882, Jan “John” Tokarz immigrated to Canada in 1903 and settled in the Municipality of Kildonan. In 1907, he married Polish immigrant Katarzyna “Katherine” (?-1966) at Winnipeg and they had seven children. The family operated a dairy farm on Lot 20 of Old Kildonan from 1930 to 1966.
Tom Chester	William R. Clement Parkway, Winnipeg	Named for golf pro Thomas P. Chester. See also Chester Square Park
Tommy Prince MM	Winnipeg	Named for war hero Thomas George “Tommy” Prince
Transcona Kinsmen	35 Bayview Place, Winnipeg	Named for the former Kinsmen Club of Transcona
U
V
Van Belleghem	Winnipeg	Probably named for municipal official Joseph Gustave Van Belleghem
Van Hull	57 Marine Drive, Winnipeg	Probably named for the adjacent development Van Hull Estates which, in turn, is named for realtor Rick Van Hull
Victor Valde	124 Borden Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for airman Victor Lewis Valde (1929-1944)
Victoria Jason	255 Redonda Street, Winnipeg	Named for Arctic kayak adventurer Victoria Jason
W
Wayne Ruff	65 Glen Meadow Street, Winnipeg	Named for educator and administrator Adam Wayne Ruff. Formerly known as Darwin Park, this 4.1-acre park backing onto the Darwin School, it was renamed at a ceremony on 17 September 2015 attended by Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) school trustee Hugh Coburn, City Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital Ward), and MLA Theresa Oswald
Wellington	Winnipeg	It was renamed Theodore Niizhotay Park
Westview	Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for the expansive vista seen from atop the park’s hill, a former garbage dump, known unofficially as Garbage Hill
Wightman Green	384 Linwood Street, Winnipeg	Named for municipal official Reginald Frederick Wightman
Will and Jeanine Richard	Winnipeg	Named for architect Willis Herman “Will” Richard and his wife Jeanine Lively (1943-2010)
William Marshall	440 Dominion Street, Winnipeg
William Reid	901 Leola Street, Winnipeg	Named for horticulturist William Douglas Reid
William Whyte	Higgins Avenue, Winnipeg	Named for railwayman William Methven Whyte
Willis Road	Willis Road, West St. Paul	It was renamed Centennial Park as part of 100th municipal anniversary celebrations
X
Y
Z

Sources:

1. “A park to call his own,” Winnipeg Free Press South Community Review, 22 October 1997, page 1.

2. “Jill Officer getting a park named after her in North Kildonan,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 April 2014.

3. “New park and playground take names of Churchill, Roosevelt,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 November 1942, page 13. “Playground attendance 195,675 boys and girls,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 March 1943, page 5.

4. “Park to be dedicated,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 June 1982, page 69.

We thank Jill Paskewitz and Lynn Roseman for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 4 February 2024