Memorable Manitobans: Elsie Claire Dewar (1907-1994)

Educator.

Born at Selkirk on 26 October 1907, the daughter of Henry Stanley Dewar (1878-1960) and Clara Jean Gibbs (1878-1979), she was educated at schools in Selkirk where she received the Governor General’s Medal (1925) and an Isbister Scholarship (1925), and a BA (1929) from the University of Manitoba. She took teacher training at Central Normal School in Winnipeg and taught in rural Manitoba at Strathclair School for 10 years, and Starbuck School for one year, before transitioning to the Fort Garry Municipal School District No. 2361 (later the Fort Garry School Division). She lived in Wolseley and taught at Fort Garry, in General Byng School, Viscount Alexander School, and Vincent Massey Collegiate, the latter where she was Vice-Principal (?-1962) before becoming the Principal of Oakenwald School (1963-1971). She involved herself with various teachers organizations, the University Women’s Club, and sporting events. Her pastimes included enjoyed bridge, golf, and tennis. Following her retirement in 1971, she moved back to Selkirk and spent summers at her Victoria Beach cottage, having bought the property in 1955. She died on 26 January 1994.

Sources:

1911 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Elsie Dewar is winner of Governor General’s medal,” Manitoba Free Press, 12 September 1925, page 6.

“Degrees,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 May 1929, page 8.

Obituary [Henry Stanley Dewar], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 November 1960, page 7.

“Social items,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 June 1962, page 17.

“Elsie Claire Dewar feted on retirement,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 July 1971, page 25.

Obituary [Clara J. Dewar], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 November 1979, page 36.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 29 January 1994, page C9.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 18 June 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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