Memorable Manitobans: Peter Burtniak (1925-2004)

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Peter Burtniak
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Farmer, MLA (1969-1973), MLA (1973-1977).

Born at Fork River on 26 March 1925, son of Fred Burtniak (?-1956) and Pearl Kalinchuk (?-?), he farmed for many years and was active in farm organizations. During the Second World War, he served in the Fort Garry Horse Active Reserve Army Corps. In the early 1950s, he was involved with the Manitoba Farmers Union, Manitoba Federation of Agriculture and Manitoba Pool Elevators. In the 1960s, he operated a farm implement dealership at Fork River.

First elected to the Manitoba Legislature for the Dauphin constituency at the 1969 general election, after being defeated in 1958, he was re-elected in 1973. He served as Minister of Tourism and Recreation (1969-1971), Minister of Cultural Affairs (1970-1971), Minister Responsible for the Manitoba Telephone System (1970-1973), Minister of Highways (1971-1977), and Minister Responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (1976-1977). He was defeated at the 1977 general election. In 1982, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Manitoba Transport Board, a position he held until retirement in 1988. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977.

He died at Winnipeg on 8 April 2004 and was buried in Glen Eden Memorial Garden.

Sources:

“Future cabinet ministers, their past and present,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 July 1969, page 26.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 12 April 2004.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 August 2020

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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