Athlete, philanthropist, industrialist.
Born in Quebec on 3 July 1879, he received his early education there. He owned a silver mine in Cobalt, Ontario prior to moving to Manitoba. In the early 1900s Brodie opened a grain brokerage business in Brandon, living there from 1902 to 1920. He was the President and founder of the Great West Coal Company Limited in Winnipeg, in 1912, whose collieries were located in the Drumheller district of Alberta. Brodie was also the President of Rosedale Collieries Limited in Rosedale, Alberta, and Western Dominion Coal Mines Limited in Taylorton, Saskatchewan.
He was a member of the Manitoba Board of Trade. He was an avid explorer, and enjoyed geology, forestry, fishing and hunting. Brodie played hockey on the same team as Lester Patrick, whose team played in the Senior Hockey Championship in Ottawa.
He died in 1962 and bequeathed $250,000 to Brandon University to be used expressly for furthering science education. The John R. Brodie Science Centre on the Brandon University Campus was officially opened in May 1972. He is commemorated by the J. R. Brodie Science Centre at Brandon University.
Brandon University, Press Release for the opening of the J. R. Brodie Science Centre, 7 May 1972.
Plaque, Portrait of John R. Brodie. S. J. McKee Archives.
Brandon University, Historical Sketch of Brandon University.
This page was prepared by Angela Graham.
Page revised: 24 October 2015
Memorable Manitobans
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