Memorable Manitobans: Jessie Kirk (1877-1965)

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Jessie Kirk
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Educator, politician.

She taught at North St. Andrews School (1913-1914). She ran as a labour candidate in the 1919 municipal elections for the Winnipeg School Board. She had lost her job as a schoolteacher for her labour activities. She lost in 1919, but was elected to the municipal council in 1920. She withdrew from the 1920 provincial election in favour of male strike leaders. She was elected to the executive committee of the Dominion Labour Party in March 1920 as one of two female representatives. In 1921 she became the first woman elected to the Winnipeg city council. She subsequently ran for city council in 1922, 1926, and 1934. She served on the board of the Winnipeg General Hospital. She died on 2 December 1965 and was buried in Brookside Cemetery.

Sources:

“Mrs. J. Kirk is candidate in Ward Two,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 November 1941, page 3.

Obituary [W. Kirk], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 June 1945, page 14.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

We thank Christian Cassidy, Lyle Brennen, and Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 14 May 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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