Donald Warder “Don” Orchard

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Donald Warder Orchard
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Farmer, MLA (1977-1981), MLA (1982-1986), MLA (1986-1988), MLA (1988-1990), MLA (1990-1995).

Born at Miami on 11 April 1946, son of Warder Franklin John Orchard (1916-2017) and Muriel Bernice King (1911-1975), he was educated at the University of Manitoba. He farmed and was active in the Miami Agricultural Society. He was a successful Progressive Conservative candidate for the Pembina constituency in the 1977 provincial general election and was re-elected in 1981, 1986, 1988, and 1990. He held ministerial portfolios of Highways and Transport (1979-1981), Manitoba Data Services and Manitoba Telephone System (1981), Health (1988-1993), Energy and Mines (1993-1995), and Manitoba Hydro Act (1993-1995). He did not stand in the 1995 election. In recognition of his community service, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), and a wildlife management area was named for him (2021).

Sources:

Obituary [Warder Franklin John Orchard], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 December 2017.

MLA Biographies - Living, Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 November 2023