Born at Regina, Saskatchewan on 13 November 1931, son of Hugh S. Hanna and Doris Hanna, he moved to Winnipeg after high school graduation and attended the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1955. He then received a Master of Architecture degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956 and began an architectural career at Regina.
He returned to Winnipeg in 1958 and joined the architectural firm of Smith Carter and Katelnikoff. In 1959, he and R. Douglas “Doug” Gillmor partnered with Morley Blankstein and Isadore “Issie” Coop to form Blankstein Coop Gillmor and Hanna. After another merger in 1964, it became Number TEN Architectural Group, named for the number of its office on Donald Street North. He served as President of the Manitoba Association of Architects (1969-1970) and was a member of the council for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (1969-1970). In 1990, he moved to Victoria, British Columbia and continued to practice there until retirement.
On 3 September 1955, he married Dianne Hinch at St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church and they subsequently had three sons. He was President for the Neighbourhood Service Centres of Greater Winnipeg and Board Chair of the Winnipeg Children’s Aid Society and the University of Winnipeg. His hobbies were golf and flying, having received a pilot’s license at 40.
He died at Victoria, British Columbia on 16 May 2025.
“Shower is honor for Dianne Hinch,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 August 1955, page 13.
“Al Hanna,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 February 1969, page 16.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 24 May 2025.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 24 May 2025
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