Memorable Manitobans: Gordon Leslie “Les” Russell (1901-1977)

Architect.

Born at Winnipeg on 28 November 1901, son of Thomas Gordon Russell (1872-1960) and Jean Leslie Winram (1874-1938), in 1925 he graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Manitoba and moved to Chicago, Illinois where he was involved in the design of several prominent buildings.

He returned to Winnipeg to work for his uncle, architect John Hamilton Gordon Russell. In 1932, he co-founded the architectural firm of Green Blankstein Russell and Associates which was responsible for the design of many noted buildings in Winnipeg. He served as President of the Manitoba Association of Architects and was a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

On 7 August 1930, he married Evelyn Mary Dobson (1905-1997) and they had two daughters, including Frances Evelyn Russell. He was a member of the Masons, Kiwanis Club of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Winter Club, and St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church.

He retired in December 1966 and moved to Victoria, British Columbia where he died on 30 May 1977.

See also:

Manitoba Business: Green Blankstein Russell and Associates

Sources:

Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“T. Gordon Russell, church worker, dead at 87,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 February 1960, page 6.

Death registration, British Columbia Vital Statistics.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 31 May 1977, page 37.

“Winnipeg architect Russell dies in B.C.,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 June 1977, page 79.

Obituary [Evelyn Mary Russell], Winnipeg Free Press, 5 July 1997, page 47.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 December 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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