Memorable Manitobans: George Johnson (1920-1995)
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George Johnson
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Physician, MLA (1958-1959), MLA (1959-1962), MLA (1963-1966), MLA (1966-1969), Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba (1986-1993).
Born at Winnipeg in 1920, he attended local schools and the University of Manitoba (BSc 1941). He served in the Royal Navy from 1941 to 1945 in the North Sea. In 1950 he graduated from University of Manitoba Medical School and set up in practice at Gimli. Elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1958, he entered the Cabinet immediately and served there under Premiers Roblin and Weir. Re-elected in the 1959, 1962, and 1966 general elections, he served as Minister of Health and Public Welfare (1958-1961), Minister of Health (1961-1963), Minister of Education (1963-1968), and Minister of Health (1968-1969). He was responsible for bringing the early stages of Medicare to Manitoba. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1986. In the same year, he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, serving to 1991. Johnson was inducted into the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame (1994) and received honorary doctorates from the University of Winnipeg (1992) and University of Manitoba (1995). He died at his cottage at Gimli on 8 July 1995. He is commemorated by George Johnson Middle School in Gimli. His papers are at the Archives of Manitoba.
Sources:
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 10 July 1995, page 13.
Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 7 April 2018
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