by Fred Morris
December 2025
Lipton Street is named after Sir Thomas Lipton ( 1848-1931). Sir Thomas founded Lipton Tea. Also, as a yachtsman he made five unsuccessful attempts to win the America's Cup. The residents of Lipton Street are first mentioned in the 1905 Henderson Directory.
On 4 April 2008, the Manitoba Moose defeated the Toronto Marlies 2-1. The ceremonial puck drop was performed by a 99-year-old hockey legend who had lived most of his adult life on Lipton Street. Bill Addison is a member of both the Manitoba Hockey and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. He was the General Manager of the 1958-1959 Winnipeg Braves, the last Manitoba team to win the Memorial Cup. Also, he served as the Commissioner of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for two decades, and was involved in Pony League Baseball. He died the following year (2009) at the age of 100.
Sylvia Burka spent part of her adolescence residing on Lipton. She represented Canada in Speed Skating at the 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympics. She also excelled as a track cyclist, winning 12 national titles. She is in the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Sylvia was named Manitoba's Female Athlete of the 20th Century.
I found several people with impressive longevity. Kate Harding spent 26 years at the Winnipeg Tribune, James McCullock 42 years at Winnipeg Electric, Alvin Campbell 36 years as a school teacher, Donald Alexander 47 years at Huxley Cartage, and John A. MacDonald (not the politician) spent 43 years at CPR.
Dr. Angus Fraser, the Chief Medical Officer to the Workmen's Compensation Board, resided on Lipton. He published a textbook called Trauma Disease Compensation on the subject of workplace injuries. Rev. Runolfur Marteinsson was an educator and pastor. Between 1913-1940, he served almost continuously as the Principal of the Jon Bjarnason Academy, a private Icelandic school. In 1939, Runolfur was awarded the Icelandic Order of the Falcon. A question has come up: was Rev. Marteinsson ever the Pastor of First Lutheran Church? The First Lutheran history book Rooted in Christ states that he was twice the pastor of First Lutheran. In 1899, Runolfur filled in for Pastor Jon Bjarnason. In 1920, he filled in for an ailing Pastor B. B. Jonasson. During her time as Deaconess of First Lutheran Church, Sister Laufey Olson resided on Lipton. Laufey worked hard annually making 500 church visits. She later became the President of Betelstadur at 1061 Sargent.
During a long journalism career, Frank Morriss worked for both the Winnipeg Free Press and the Winnipeg Tribune. He was a copy editor and a drama and movie writer.
In 1938, Harold J. Farrow of Lipton Street and his twin brother Welton hosted a Waterville Maine party for 500 sets of twins. 1953 was the year of the picture for Lipton Street. Mark Robeson was one of the Dennis Menaces in a 28 April Free Press story. In early July 1953, Roy Knight's baby picture was a prize winner in the Winnipeg Free Pess Snap Shot contest. Finally, Andre Martin was pictured in the Free Press coming home from the Korean War just as the truce was signed.
Between 1913 and 1979, Winnipeg Firehall Number 14 was located on Lipton Street. On 11 August 1938, my Uncle Jon Bjarnason and Herbert Samsom were working in the Crescent Creamery Lab when there was a chlorine leak. Uncle Jon Bjarnason rushed Herbert to the Lipton Street Fire Hall. The Fire Department conveyed him to the Grace Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Page revised: 11 September 2026
