Farmer, community activist.
Born at Strathclair on 6 April 1931, son of Samuel and Christene Sinclair, he attended the Strathclair Consolidated School and the University of Manitoba, receiving from the latter a BSA degree (1952) and winning the Lieutenant Governor's Gold Medal. He began farming in 1953 and his operation grew to 2,880 acres, specializing in seeds and special crops, along with a seed cleaning plant and livestock feedlot.
In 1954, he became involved with the farm co-operative movement when he was elected a director of the Strathclair Consumers Co-op. He was also involved with the Strathclair Credit Union and the Strathclair local of Manitoba Pool Elevators. In 1961, he was elected to the board of Federated Co-operatives Limited, serving as Winnipeg Region Vice-President (1964), First Vice-President (1971), and President (1974-1977).
In 1958, he married Donalda “Donnie” Manson (1931-2010) of Arden and they had two sons. In the early 1970s, he was a trustee of the Wasagaming Foundation that contributed to improvements in the Riding Mountain Conference Centre. He was a member of the Flying Farmers and was recognized in 1986 by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association for his contributions to private aviation. He was a member of Strathclair United Church, serving on its board and teaching Sunday School, and was Master of the Strathclair Masonic Lodge. In 1987, in recognition of his public service, he received an honorary doctorate from St. Francis Xavier University at Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
He died on 7 July 1995 as a result of a traffic accident near his farm and was buried in the Bend Cemetery. He received a Distinguished Co-operator Award from the Manitoba Co-operative Council (2003) and he was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame (2008).
Obituary, Brandon Sun, 11 July 1995, page 24.
Obituary [Donalda Sinclair], Legacy.
“A trip down memory lane,” Shoal Lake Crossroads, 5 August 2022, page 45.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 5 November 2024
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