Memorable Manitobans: Andrew Russell “Russ” Paulley (1909-1984)

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Andrew Russell “Russ” Paulley
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Upholsterer, MLA (1954-1957), MLA (1958-1959), MLA (1959-1962), MLA (1963-1966), MLA (1966-1969), MLA (1969-1973), MLA (1973-1977).

Born in the Weston district of Winnipeg on 3 November 1909, son of Frederick Henry “Fred” Paulley (1872-1941) and Elizabeth Mary Partington (c1872-1967), he moved to Elmwood at an early age. After marrying, he moved to Transcona where he spent the remainder of his life, working in the Canadian National Railway shops before entering politics, first as Mayor of Transcona.

He ran in the 1949 federal general election but was defeated by Fernand Viau. In 1953, he became a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (later NDP) member of the Manitoba Legislature. He served as Transcona’s MLA in the legislature from 1953 to 1978, being re-elected in 1958, 1959, 1962, 1966, 1969, and 1973. He was leader of the Manitoba CCF (1960-1961) and NDP (1961-1969), and later served as Minister of Labour in the Schreyer government from 1969 to 1977. He was also Railway Commissioner (1959-1973), Minister of Government Services (1969-1970), Minister Responsible for the Civil Service Superannuation Act (1973-1977), and Minister Responsible for the Pension Benefits Act (1976-1977).

On 21 May 1938, he married Mary Alice Sinclair (1914-1984) in St. James and they had two daughters. For ten years he was Rector’s Warden of St. George’s Anglican Church in Transcona and was a past master of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba AF & AM. In 1977, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.

He died at Winnipeg on 19 May 1984 and was buried in the Transcona Cemetery. He is commemorated by Paulley Drive in Winnipeg. His papers (1957-1977) are at the Archives of Manitoba.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Death registration [Fredrick Henry Paulley], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1956.

Obituary [Elizabeth Mary Paulley], Winnipeg Free Press, 27 February 1967, page 31.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 May 1984, page 52.

“Former NDP leader dies after illness at 74,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 May 1984, page 5.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 May 1984, page 52.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

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

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Oliver Bernuetz (Legislative Library of Manitoba) for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 5 Mary 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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