Educator.
Born the daughter of Winnifred Evelyn “Freda” Wakelin (1910-1982) and Charles “Charlie” McCreath (1901-1986), she attended United College and was a radiology graduate (1954) from the Winnipeg General Hospital. She later worked as an educator in the River East School Division as a teacher at Salisbury School (1970-1972), Springfield Heights School (1973-1976, 1977-1979), Principal of Polson School (1979-1980), a teacher (1980-1981) and Vice-Principal (1981-1982) at Princess Margaret School, and as Principal of Sun Valley School (1986-1996). She was also President of the Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg (1982-1983). On 18 January 1955, she married Archibald “Arch” Gemmell at Regent's Park United Church. The couple divorced in 1988. She died at Nanaimo, British Columbia in April 2022.
Birth registration [Charles McCreath], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“United College Collegiate holds graduation day,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 May 1951, page 6.
“Mother receives for J. McCreath,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 January 1955, page 11.
“Gemmell - McCreath,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 January 1955, page 14.
“Gemmell - McCreath bridal is early evening event,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 January 1955, page 13.
“Impressions go down on paper as Grade 2 television watchers witness solar extravaganza,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 February 1979, page 9.
Death registration [Winnifred Evelyn McCreath], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
Obituary [Winnifred McCreath], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 July 1982, page 42.
Obituary [Charles McCreath], Winnipeg Free Press, 15 November 1986, page 42.
Winnipeg family files (ATG 0040A), FD87-01-12280 Edna Joan Gemmell vs Archibald Gemmell, GR8917, Archives of Manitoba. [via Court of Kings Bench Registry]
Winnipeg family files (ATG 0040A), FD88-01-14474 Edna Joan Gemmell vs Archibald Gemmell, GR9659, Archives of Manitoba. [via Court of Kings Bench Registry]
In Memoriam, May 2022 - Edna J. McCreath, Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba. [Internet Archive, 30 November 2023]
History, Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg.
We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 13 February 2025
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