Educator.
Born at Virden on 19 July 1918, son of Walter Leonard Peto (c1888-1975) and Katie Aime (1887-1980), brother of Donald Herbert “Don” Peto, he graduated from the United College with a BA degree and from University of Manitoba with a BEd degree. He began a teaching career, including service at Devonshire Collegiate (1944-1946) and King Edward School (1951-1952), that was interrupted in 1953 when he contracted polio.
After a year and a half in an iron lung, he returned to teaching in 1955, working from a wheelchair at River Heights Junior High School as Head of the English Department. In 1983 his lungs deteriorated and he returned to the King George Hospital where, with the help of a respirator, he continued to do volunteer teaching.
His accomplishments were recognized in 1996 when he received the Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award and, in 1993, when he received an award from the Independent Living Resource Centre. In 1947, he married Pauline Patricia Martin (1918-2017) and they had two daughters. The United Nations selected the Petos as the “Family of the Year” for Manitoba. He was a member of the Mentors Club, President of the Toastmasters group, honorary member of the Princess Elizabeth Guild, member of the Post Polio Club and worshipped at St. Aidans Anglican Church for over 50 years. He was a member of the Board of Riverview Health Centre.
He died at Winnipeg on 24 March 2001.
Marriage registration [Walker Leonard Peto, Katie Aime], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Birth registration [Leonard Donelly Peto], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary [Walter Leonard Peto], Winnipeg Free Press, 10 April 1975, page 39.
Obituary [Katie Peto], Winnipeg Free Press, 9 June 1980, page 57.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 28 March 2001.
Obituary [Pauline Peto], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 March 2017.
We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 30 October 2024
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