Printer, labour leader, municipal official.
Born at Lethbridge, Alberta, he moved to Winnipeg at an early age. He began apprenticing as a printer at the age of 16, having quit apprenticing as a garment cutter. He took part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike and earned his journeyman status in 1920. Involved in a 44-hour strike in 1921, he was one of the printing unions chapel chairman, and relished the contest. He was elected Vice-President of the International Typographical Union Local 191 in 1928, later becoming President. In the 1930s, he was a member of the committee that drafted the Manitoba Labour Relations Act, and was a founder of the Blue Cross Hospital Plan.
In the early 1920s, he took employment as a printer at Eatons prior to working at Public Press Limited in St. James for 43 years. He retired in 1965. He served as an Alderman on City of Winnipeg Council (1962-1963, 1965-1966), and was a member of the Winnipeg and District Labour Council for 50 years, its President from 1930-1942, and was designated President Emeritus in 1968. Following the merger of local labour councils in 1956, he became President. He also served on the Off-Street Parking Commission (1960) and Winnipeg Police Commission (1967).
He and his wife, Grace McLeod, had three children: Gordon McLeod, William McLeod, and Eleanor McLeod (wife of Mr. Harrison).
He died at Winnipeg on 22 January 1976.
“25 candidates seek 11 Winnipeg Aldermanic seats,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 October 1960, page 61.
“Police Commission criticized: Juba,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 December 1967, page 45.
“Council honors McLeod, King,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 May 1968, page 58.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 1976, page 33.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 8 January 2023
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