Educator.
Born at Selkirk on 1 April 1934, son of Roy Adam Purvis (1897-1980) and Winnifred Maria Vance (1905-1995), he received a BA and Education Certificate from the University of Manitoba, and two MEd degrees, in Foundations and Administration. He worked as an administrator in the Department of Psychiatry at the St. Boniface Hospital and with the Psychiatric Nurses Association.
He then became a high school history teacher. He taught at Selkirk Collegiate (circa 1962) and served as the Principal of Morden Collegiate Institute (1966-1967). He later taught administration courses to nurses, worked at the Manitoba Department of Education, was a substitute teacher, and served as a school trustee. He was Board Treasurer at the Manitoba Museum and President of the New Democratic Party.
On 2 July 1965, he married Stephanie Carol Jones at Selkirk United Church and they had two sons before separating.
He died at Selkirk on 1 November 2005.
Marriage registration [Roy Adam Purvis, Winnifred Maria Vance], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Number of graduates approaches all-time high,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1961, page 40.
“Jones - Purvis,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 May 1965, page 16.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 November 2005.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 26 October 2025
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