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James McCutcheon Sinclair
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Wholesale grocer.
Born at Regina, Saskatchewan on 26 June 1901, son of Rev. John Arthur Sinclair and Laura McCutcheon, he was educated locally then began working for the Regina branch of the wholesale grocery firm Campbell Brothers and Wilson. In 1936, he became President and General Manager of the firm. During the Second World War, he was seconded to the federal government as Director of Food Trades at Ottawa. In 1945, he organized his own company, J. M. Sinclair Limited, and acquired his former employer at Regina and the parent company at Winnipeg. He operated the firm until retirement in 1968. He was President of the Food Distribution Institute and Canadian Credit Men’s Trust Association.
He and wife Adelaide Helen Liefeld (1904-1999) had two children: Dr. John C. SInclair and Joan Laura Sinclair (wife of Dr. James Darcy Warren). They lived at 370 Oxford Street (circa 1957). He was a member of the Greater Winnipeg Transit Commission and the Winnipeg Traffic Commission. He founded and was first President of the Greater Winnipeg Safety Council, and President of the Winnipeg Community Chest, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Children’s Theatre, and Manitoba Arts Council. He served for many years on the board of the Salvation Army. In recognition of his work on the Winnipeg Traffic Commission, he received a City of Winnipeg Community Service Award (1969). In retirement he wrote Mission, Klondike (1978) about his father’s work during the Yukon Gold Rush of 1898.
He died at Victoria, British Columbia on 25 October 1979.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Campbell Brothers and Wilson Warehouse / Adelman Building (92-100 Princess Street, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Martin and Robertson Warehouse / Sinclair Grocery Warehouse/ City of Winnipeg Archives (50 Myrtle Street, Winnipeg)
Birth registration [James McCutcheon Sinclair], Saskatchewan Vital Statistics.
“James M. Sinclair; Program Director,” Winnipeg Tribune, 8 April 1954, page 19.
“Engagements,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 April 1957, page 9.
Death registrations [James McCutcheon Sinclair, Adelaide Helen Sinclair], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 27 October 1979, page 50.
We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 20 April 2025
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