Memorable Manitobans: Hugh Comack (1920-2013)

Soldier, businessman.

Born at Glasgow, Scotland on 12 December 1920, son of Mary and Hugh Comack, he was brought to Canada in 1929, along with his sister, by his grandfather and was joined by other members of his family the following year. In September 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (QOCH). He joined the QOCH Reserves in 1948 and became its Commanding Officer in 1961. He became Commander of the Winnipeg District in 1965 and Brigadier General of the Prairie Area in 1973, retiring in 1977 after receiving the Order of Military Merit.

In 1948, he was employed by the Manitoba Telephone System and was its Commercial Supervisor until 1967. He was Chairman and Producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 1967 Pan American Games at Winnipeg. He then became President and CEO of Greater Winnipeg Cablevision, retiring in 1987. He was National Chairman of the Canadian Cable Television Association (1983-1985) and National Chairman (1987-1989) and Life Governor of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires.

In 1946, he married Agnes Bardal (1921-2021, daughter of Arinbjorn Sigurgeirsson Bardal) and they subsequently had four children. He served as President of the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg (1965-1966) and was a committee member of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation. He was a member of Knox United Church, YMCA Health Club, and Re-Fit Centre.

He died at Winnipeg on 16 April 2013.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 2013.

Obituary [Agnes Comack], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 October 2021.

We thank Agnes Bardal Comack for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 16 October 2021

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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