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Muriel Ann Lipsey Smith
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MLA (1982-1986), MLA (1986-1988).
Born at Britannia Beach, British Columbia on 9 May 1930, daughter of mining engineer George Cherry Lipsey (1902-1960) and Mary MacDonald (1893-1980), she moved with her family to Snow Lake and later attended the University of Manitoba. She worked as a counsellor, served on the Manitoba Human Rights Commission (1974-1978), and Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women (1975-1976).
She was a New Democratic candidate for the Manitoba Legislature in the 1973 and 1977 general elections, being defeated each time. She was President of the Manitoba NDP (1975-1977). Elected at the 1981 general election, she was re-elected in 1986. She held ministerial portfolios of Economic Development and Tourism (1981-1983), Minister Responsible for the Development Corporation Act (1982-1983), Minister Responsible for A. E. McKenzie Company (1982-1983), Community Services (1983-1987), Minister Responsible for the Status of Women (1985-1986, 1987-1988), and Labour and Housing (1987-1988). Defeated at the 1988 general election, she did not run again.
In recognition of her community service, she was named a YWCA Woman of the Year (1982), was inducted into the Order of Canada (2008) and Order of Manitoba (2008), received a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manitoba (2009). She was selected by the Nellie McClung Foundation as a Manitoba Woman Trailblazer (2021).
In 1952, she married Murray Rhodes Smith and they had four daughters. She served as President of the University Women's Club of Winnipeg (2003-2005).
Marriage registration [George Cherry Lipsey, Mary MacDonald], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
“Three Winnipeg girls make bow to Queen,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 June 1952, page 14.
Death registration [George Cherry Lipsey], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
Obituary [George Cherry Lipsey], Winnipeg Tribune, 20 January 1960, page 33.
Obituary [Mary Lipsey], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 December 1980, page 37.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (living), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 7 December 2024
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