Memorable Manitobans: John Harvard (1938-2016)

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John Harvard
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Journalist, MP (1988-1993), MP (1993-1997), MP (1997-2000), MP (2000-2004), Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba (2004-2009).

Born Harvard Heidman at Glenboro on 4 June 1938, son of Adalgrimur “Harry” Heidman (1891-1965) and Mabel Olivera Johnson (1897-1979), he adopted the name John Harvard when he became a broadcast journalist. He worked from 1957 to 1988 for the CBC and CJOB radio and television stations, and received an ACTRA award in 1976.

In the 1988 federal general election, he elected to the House of Commons, representing the Winnipeg St. James constituency, and was re-elected in 1993, 1997, and 2000. He did not stand for re-election at the 2004 general election, when he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.

In recognition of his community service, he received the Canada 125 Commemorative Medal (1992), Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012). He was inducted into the Order of the Falcon (2000), Order of Manitoba (2004), and Order of St. John (2007). He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manitoba (2005).

He was married three times and had five children, two of whom predeceased him.

He died at Winnipeg on 9 January 2016.

See also:

Government House at 125
Manitoba History, Number 58, June 2008

Sources:

Obituary [Mabel Heidman], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 December 1979, page 58.

“St. John Ambulance Awards,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 June 2007, page 19.

Obituary [Bernice Mae Anderson], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 April 2009, page 28.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 January 2016.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Phyllis Fraser for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 9 April 2022

Memorable Manitobans

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.

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