 |
Edward Robert McGill
|
Pilot, MLA (1969-1973), MLA (1973-1977), MLA (1977-1981).
Born at Vancouver, British Columbia on 21 September 1912, he spent most of his early life in Brandon. He attended Park School and Brandon Collegiate, and he spent one year at Brandon College before going to Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, to receive a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
In 1933 he was employed by Inco Steel, as a smelter and later as an accountant. He worked there until 1939, when he enlisted in the Canadian Air Force as a pilot. He worked as a flight instructor for two years before marrying Marguerite Eve Shaw in 1942, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 1943 he was posted overseas with 418 City of Edmonton Squadron. He flew the De Havilland “Mosquito,” also known as the “Wooden Wonder.” While on tour he performed 38 operational trips. After the Second World War, he returned to Brandon to manage No. 12 Flying School at Brandon Airport, as a civilian school. He managed the airport for 25 years. In 1971 the Brandon airport was renamed McGill Field in his honour.
In the 1969 general election, he was elected the MLA for the Brandon West constituency, being re-elected at elections in 1973 and 1977. He served as Minister of Consumer, Corporate and Internal Service (1977-1978), Minister of Co-operative Development (1977-1978), and Minister Without Portfolio (1979-1981). He did not seek re-election in 1981.
In 1942, he married Marguarite Eve Shaw (?-1992) and they had four children: Mickey McGill (wife of Jack Miller), Douglas “Doug” McGill, Patricia “Patti” McGill (wife of Robert Gary Mazer), and Frances Elizabeth “Betsy” McGill (1955-2023). In recognition of his community service, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977).
He died at Brandon on 3 December 1996. He is commemorated by McGill Drive in Brandon.
Voices of Yesteryear [Audiocassette], 1982. Westman Oral History Collection by the Westman Oral History Association (Effie McPhail, Chair). S. J. McKee Archives.
Obituary [Marguarite Eve McGill], Winnipeg Free Press, 2 November 1992, page 34.
Obituary, Brandon Sun, 5 December 1996, page 12.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 December 1996, page 18.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
Obituary [Frances Elizabeth McGill], Brandon Sun, 21 October 2023, page 24.
We thank David McConkey for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Angela Graham and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 17 September 2025
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.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
