Memorable Manitobans: Graeme Thomson “G.T.” Haig (1923-1993)

Lawyer.

Born at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on 7 August 1923, son of Gordon Stuart Haig and Catherine Margaret Thomson, he was educated in Moose Jaw and Winnipeg public schools, the University of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Law School. During the Second World War, he served overseas with the rank of Lieutenant Major in the 18th Canadian Armed Corps and was awarded a Military Cross.

He was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1949 and practiced law in Winnipeg and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1965. He was appointed Special Counsel to the Canadian Board of Broadcast Governors. He served as President of the Manitoba Bar Association and Vice-President of the Canadian Bar Associations, and served as Special Commissioner inquiring into Lotteries and Gambling in Manitoba in 1979.

He served as President of the Winnipeg Humane Society, United Way and the Canadian Foundation on Alcohol and Drug Dependencies, of which he was a Life Member. He was President of the St. James-Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce (1973-1974), Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, and Vice-President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He was President of the Manitoba Provincial Conservative Party and Chairman of the Alcoholism Foundation of Manitoba. He was a member of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission and a Director of the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company and of Granville Savings and Mortage Corporation of Vancouver. He was a Life Bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba. He served with the Fort Garry Horse from 1949 to 1960. In recognition of his community service, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and was inducted into the Order of Canada (1985).

On 28 May 1949, he married Patricia Joyce “Patsy” Jackson (1924-1993, daughter of John Jackson) at the Greenwood United Church. They had a son and three daughters.

He died at Winnipeg on 15 December 1993 and was buried in the Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery.

Sources:

“Patricia Jackson carries white lilacs in bridal bouquet,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 May 1949, page 15.

“10 Manitoba lawyers on New Year’s list,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 January 1965, page 6.

“Haig will stress rural development,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 April 1974, page 13.

Graeme T. Haig, Order of Canada citation.

Obituary [Patricia Joyce Jackson Haig], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 April 1993, page 42.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 17 December 1993, page 54.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Nathan Kramer and Julia McIlvride for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 28 November 2023

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 Search Browse 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 | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 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.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!