Memorable Manitobans: John Potoski (1903-1983)

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John Potoski
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Farmer, municipal official.

Born at Sifton on 23 December 1903, after receiving an education and working on the family farm, he worked for a time in an automobile plant at Chicago to help put his brothers Michael and Peter through medical school. Following his return, he received a diploma from the Manitoba Agricultural College then returned to the farm at Sifton. In 1945, he moved to Dauphin where he farmed until his death, being a registered seed grower for 38 years.

He served as Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Dauphin (1944-1945, 1948-1980). He also spent 17 years on the executive of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities and was a President and Life Member of the Manitoba Good Roads Association. He served two years as Secretary and seven years as President of the Parkland Regional Development Corporation. He was a Liberal candidate for Dauphin in the 1953 and 1958 provincial general elections, President of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (1977-1981) and a member of the Advisory Board for St. Paul’s Home of Dauphin from 1979 to his death.

He died at Winnipeg on 10 November 1983 and was buried in the Dauphin Riverside Cemetery.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Izon Barn (RM of Dauphin)

Sources:

Birth registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 December 1983, page 93.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 14 October 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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