Municipal official.
Born at Glenluce, Scotland on 22 June 1906, he came to Canada at age 20. He worked for three years on a farm in Miniota before coming to Winnipeg in 1930 and establishing a market garden in West St. Paul. In 1932, he joined Moore’s Taxi and remained there until retirement in 1970 as Superintendant of the Company. He served on Winnipeg City Council for twenty years, being first elected in 1960 and serving as a member of the Executive Police Committe, Police Commission, and Municipal Hospitals Board.
On 24 June 1933, he married Sarah “Sally” Roberts (1907-1990) at Winnipeg and they had five children: Margaret McGarva (wife of Bud Newton), Gordon William McGarva, Dorothy McGarva (wife of Sheldon Herron), William “Bill” McGarva (1943-2019)), and Don McGarva. The family lived at 777 Dominion Street, Winnipeg.
He served as Chairman of the Parks Board for five years, having a special interest in improving local parks and community centres. He was a member of several community organizations, particularly curling clubs and organizations related to his Scottish heritage. He was the Progressive Conservative candidate for Wellington constituency in the 1969 provincial general election but was defeated by Philip Petursson.
He died at 13 April 1991.
Marriage registration [William Parker McGarva, Sarah Roberts], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Aldermanic candidates - Ward 2,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 October 1965, page 29.
Obituary [Sally McGarva], Winnipeg Free Press, 31 January 1990, page 35.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 April 1991, page 32.
Obituary [William McGarva], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 September 2019.
This page was prepared by Kris Keen and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 August 2024
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