Memorable Manitobans: Wilfred Haldor “Bill” Vopni (1911-1973)

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Wilfred Haldor Vopni
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Printer, publisher.

Born at Winnipeg on 6 August 1911, son of Jon Jonnson Vopni and Sigurborg Magnusdotter (1877-1957), he got his start in the family printing business before going to Saskatchewan and joining his brother John as owner and publisher of the Hanley Herald. They later owned the Carberry News-Express at Carberry. Following service in the Second World War, he came to Portage la Prairie and, in partnership with Ian A. MacKenzie, purchased the Graphic Liberal Printing Company, publishers of the Portage Daily Graphic.

They later purchased the MacGregor Herald and Neepawa Press weeklies. He served on the Promotion Council of the Manitoba Centennial Corporation. In May 1970, he sold his interest in the business to MacKenzie. He served as President of the Manitoba Tourist Association, Society for Crippled Children, Manitoba Heart Foundation, and Manitoba Weekly Newspaper Association (1968-1969). He also served as a Portage city alderman.

He died at Portage la Prairie on 7 January 1973.

Sources:

Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Former publisher W. H. Vopni dead,” Brandon Sun, 8 January 1973, page 2.

“W. H. Vopni of Portage dies at 61,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 January 1973, page 51.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 January 1973, page 27.

Vopni family genealogy, Geni.

We thank Kjel Oslund for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 28 August 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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