Insurance executive.
Born at Winnipeg on 26 February 1907, the son John Frederick Swaine and of Wilhemina “Minnie” Bieber (c1884-1959), he attended Machray School and St. John’s High School, and at the age of 15, began working as an office boy with the Norwich Union Fire Insurance (NUFI) Company. He remained with the company for 42 years, working his way up to become Inspector and, later, District Manager. He served as President of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce (1955, 1956-1957) and, in 1956, moved to Toronto to become General Manager of the NUFI (Canadian Division). In later retirement, he returned to Winnipeg and was active in the community, as co-founder of Creative Retirement, a board member with the Seniors’ Job Bureau and the St. Andrews United Church (Chairman), and a committee member of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation. He also was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Reserves and served during the Second World War. On 26 March 1932, he married Lesley Evelyn McGregor (1911-2007, daughter of N. J. M. McGregor) at Augustine United Church in Winnipeg and they had three children: Shelagh Isabel Swaine (wife of Victor Vereker Murray), Lesley Margaret Swaine (wife of Richard Wesley Taylor), and Fred Swaine. His pastimes include lawn bowling, hunting, fishing, and conservationism. He died at the Grace General Hospital on 1 May 1989.
Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Social and personal [Mr. and Mrs. Neil John McGregor],” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 March 1932, page 26.
“Swaine - McGregor,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 March 1932, page 9.
“Margaret Swaine and L. B. Newell wed Saturday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 October 1948, page 12.
Death notice [Minnie Swaine], Winnipeg Free Press, 28 March 1959, page 30.
“Murray - Swaine,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 September 1959, page 14.
“Engagements [Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Frederick Swaine],” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 June 1961, page 19.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 3 May 1989, page 46.
Obituary [Lesley E. Swaine], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 February 2007, page 28.
Obituary [Margaret Newell], Winnipeg Free Press, 24 February 2009, page 28.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 2 November 2022
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