Memorable Manitobans: Robert Elmer “Bob” Moffat (1916-2002)

Lawyer, municipal official, grain merchant.

Born at Elgin on 5 March 1916, son of George Moffat and Nellie McMorran, he moved to Ottawa in 1942 where he was an economist for the Canadian Wartime Price Control Agency. He returned to Winnipeg in 1945 where he worked as an economic advisor to the Campbell government. He also served as Clerk of the Manitoba Privy Council. In 1953, he ran for a seat in the Manitoba Legislature, representing the Deloraine-Glenwood constituency, but lost to James O. Argue. He ran again in a 1955 byelection necessitated by Argue’s death but was defeated by Albert Draper. In the 1962 provincial election, he was a candidate in the Winnipeg constituency of Osborne but was defeated by Obie Baizley. That same year, he ran for Mayor of Winnipeg, being defeated by Steve Juba. He was a member of the Winnipeg Metro Council from 1962 to 1964. First elected to Winnipeg city council in October 1964, he served on the civic finance and urban renewal committes until September 1967, when he resigned to accept a position with Manitoba Pool Elevators. He was its Corporate Secretary (1967-1969), Assistant General Manager (1969-1970), and General Manager (1970-1978). He retired in 1978 and published the book Money and Wealth in the Affluent Society (1983). He was married twice, first to Laura Kathrin Briley (c1921-1962) of Shelbyville, Indiana in 1942. They had four children: Linda, Donald, Douglas, and Richard. He later married Violet Jane Taylor (?-?). He died on 3 November 2002.

Sources:

Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Obituary [Laura Kathrin Moffat], Winnipeg Free Press, 23 February 1962, page 26.

“Bob Moffat to oppose Mayor Juba,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 October 1962, page 2.

“Bob Moffat is seeking nomination,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 November 1962, page 3.

“Mayor without opposition,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 October 1964, page 10.

“Elect independent candidates,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 October 1964, page 9.

“Moffat quits council, 4 vacancies in ward 1,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 September 1967, page 3.

“Wheat Pool branches out,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 September 1970, page 68.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 November 2002.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 31 July 2019

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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