Memorable Manitobans: Basil Roy McPherson (1903-1995)

Architect.

Born in the RM of Rockwood on 10 March 1903, son of Charles McPherson (1874-1954) and Elsie Amy Bristow (1879-1957), he moved with his family to Teulon in 1910. He received primary and secondary education at Teulon and Stonewall then studied Architecture at the University of Manitoba, receiving a Gold Medal on graduation in 1927.

During the 1930s, he worked with his father’s contracting business in the Interlake. In 1940, he moved to Winnipeg and joined the Office of the Provincial Architect. In 1957, he succeeded Gilbert C. Parfitt as Provincial Architect and served until retirement in 1968.

On 12 August 1933, he married Sarah Baxter (1903-1985) at Winnipeg and they had three sons, including Charles Barry McPherson. He was a member of the Regents Park United Church.

He died at Selkirk on 12 July 1995 and was buried in the Windsor Cemetery.

Some of his architectural works in Manitoba included:

Building

Location

Year

Status

Manitoba School for the Deaf

1075 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg

1957

 

Tourist Information Office

International Peace Garden

1958

 

Dormitory Building

Headingley Gaol

1958

 

Manitoba School for the Deaf (addition)

1075 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg

1959-1960

 

Pasteurizing Plant Building

Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases

1959

 

Government House (assembly room)

10 Kennedy Street, Winnipeg

1961

 

Government House (garage and greenhouse)

10 Kennedy Street, Winnipeg

1963

 

Sources:

Marriage registration [Charles McPherson, Elsie Amy Bristow], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Birth registration [Basil Roy McPherson], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Marriage registration [Basil Roy McPherson, Sarah Baxter], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Tenders [Manitoba School for the Deaf],” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 July 1957, page 34.

“Tenders [Tourist Information Office],” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 July 1958, page 22.

“Tenders [Dormitory Building],” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 July 1958, page 36.

“Tenders [Manitoba School for the Deaf],” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 July 1959, page 19.

“Tenders [Pasteurizing Plant Building],” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 September 1959, page 30.

“Tenders [Government House Assembly Room],” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 March 1961, page 127.

“Tenders [Government House Garage and Greenhouse],” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 August 1963, page 46.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 September 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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