Educator, athlete, civil servant.
Born at Brandon on 5 June 1911, he later moved to Balgonie, Saskatchewan, coming to Winnipeg in 1925 to attend St. John’s College School. He later graduated with an Arts degree from the University of Manitoba and taught at St. John’s College School. A football player, he played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1928 and competed in the Grey Cup in 1928, 1930, and 1933.
During the Second World War, he served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and was awarded the Order of the British Empire. On his return from military duty, he taught at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate, where he coached the football team to four straight Winnipeg championships.
From 1957 to 1970 he was supervisor of officiating for the Western Conference of the Canadian Football League. After many years as Director of Physical Education for Winnipeg (1951-1957) and Manitoba (1957-1961) and a period as Director of Parks for Greater Winnipeg (1961-1971), he served as Manitoba Deputy Minister of Urban Affairs from 1971 to 1976. On retirement in 1976, he was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt and he received a City of Winnipeg Community Service Award. For his contributions to football, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1974), Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Fame (1984), and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (1989).
He died at Winnipeg on 14 August 1990. He is commemorated by Andrew Currie Park in Winnipeg.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Blossom Park / Andrew Currie Park / Assiniboine Cycle Path Monument (1420 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg)
Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Vince’s philosophy stressed fun for all,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 September 1982, page 84.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 August 1990, page 44.
“Gridiron great Currie dies at 79,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 August 1990, page 48.
Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.
We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 2 September 2024
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.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
