Dictionary of Manitoba Biography

Paul G. Thomas is a professor of political science at the University of
Manitoba, the author of Parliamentary Reform Through Political Parties,
and the co-author of Canadian Public Administration: Problematical
Perspectives.

The Dictionary of Manitoba Biography contains 1600 biographical sketches
prepared by Jack Bumsted, a prolific author of both popular and
scholarly historical studies. The book will be an indispensable source
for students of Manitoba history, but also for more casual use by people
curious to recall a personality from the past.

The entries cover 300 years of Manitoba history and all fields of
activity—business, politics, sports, entertainment, religion,
education, and others. To be included in the book, individuals had to be
dead; to have spent some time, however brief, in the province; to have
had their lives shaped by Manitoba; or to have had an impact on the
province themselves. This is not, however, a book only about the
powerful and famous; lesser-known individuals who were involved with
smaller events and accomplishments are also included. The racial,
ethnic, and cultural diversity of Manitoba is well represented in the
listings.

Bumsted is a clear and entertaining writer, so it is a pleasure to dip
into the book and meet previously unknown figures from the past. While
this volume is remarkably inclusive, Bumsted invites readers to add
missing names by sending them to the University of Manitoba Press. This
means that the book will definitely expand in subsequent editions.