This non-profit organization was established in early 1953 to organize the Red River Exhibition, first held in 1952 under sponsorship of the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg. Initially, the exhibition was held at the Osborne Stadium on a site now occupied by the Great West Life Building. From 1954 to 1996, known for a period in the 1970s as Manisphere, it was held at Polo Park. In 1997, it moved to the present site near Assiniboia Downs.
Period
President
1952-1953
William James Sinclair (?-1970)
1953-1954
Graham Conrad Lount (1921-2016)
1954-1955
Donald C. Small
1955-1956
?
1956-1958
Richard Clair Leatherdale (1917-1982)
1958-1959
Claude Bruce Main (1914-2005)
1959-1961
Stewart Congdon Millett (1925-1984)
1961-1962
Harold Truman Martin (1925-1996)
1962-1964
Mahlon Claude “Mel” Craft (1919-1969)
1964-1966
Peter Edward Swerhone (?-2016)
1966-1968
Harold C. Wainwright
1968-1970
Keith Newton Routley (1923-2009)
1970-?
S. J. Haughey
?-1978
?
1978
Arnie Little
1979-1982
W. B. Munro
1982-1985
Nathan “Nate” Nurgitz (1934-2019)
1985-1988
J. H. “Jack” Curran
1988-1990
Robert Lawrence “Bob” Washington (1934-2016)
1990-?
Gary V. Brickman
?-1996
?
1997
Brian Thompson
1998
?
1999-2000
Stan Lewis
See also:
Manitoba Organization: Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg
“Red River show gets new set-up,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 April 1953, page 3.
“Bigger Red River show to move to Polo Park,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 February 1954, page 3.
“Mayor lauds men behind exhibition,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 October 1955, page 18.
“Robertson sees desire for big Ex,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 June 1956, page 3.
“Red River Exhibition appointment,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 October 1956, page 20.
“Millett heads Exhibition,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 September 1959, page 34.
“Dragging halted,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 November 1969, page 4.
“Exhibition to new site by 1981,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1979, page 98.
“Notice,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 February 1982, page 13.
“Notice,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 January 1983, page 10.
Obituary [Stewart Congdon Millett], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 January 1985, page 63.
“Appointment,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 March 1985, page 10.
“Notice,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 1987, page 12.
“Exhibition still covets Downs,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 December 1988, page 74.
“Wright family to retain managerial input,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 April 1991, page 64.
“Red River Exhibition attractions have changed over the years,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 June 1997, page 57.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 1 September 2024
