Insurance agent, municipal politician.
Born near Arnes on 21 June 1911, son of Gudmundur Eliason and Margret Sveinsdottir, he was greatly influenced by their liberal political views. He became involved in politics and was a founding member and organizer of the Co-operative Commonweath Foundation, forerunner of the New Democratic Party. During his career, he met and worked with James Shaver Woodsworth, Tommy Douglas, and Stanley Knowles, all figures in the Canadian social democratic movement.
After a number of unsuccessful campaigns for public office for both the CCF and the NDP, including the 1959 and 1962 provincial elections and 1963 federal election, Eliason was elected in 1968 to Winnipeg City Council as Councillor for Ward 2. Except for the years 1971 to 1974 and 1977 to 1980, he served on council until his retirement in 1989. He was a director of the Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation (1987-1989). Of his time in civic politics, Eliason was most satisfied by his work on low-income housing and the preservation of heritage buildings. In the latter capacity, he was given a Distinguished Service Award by Heritage Winnipeg.
He died at Winnipeg on 11 November 2005. His papers are held at the City of Winnipeg Archives.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 15 November 2005.
City of Winnipeg Archives, 2007 Annual Report.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 7 August 2024
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