William Jenkins (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
William Walter Jenkins was a politician
in Manitoba, Canada
. He served as a New Democratic
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1969 to 1981.
Jenkins was raised in the Souris
region. He served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and saw combat with the Canadian Scottish Regiment in World War II
, and was wounded in action after the D-Day
invasion in the city of Caen
, France. He married
Elizabeth Ineson of Lancaster, Lancashire
England and they subsequently had three children, Linda, Ross and Terry after returning home to Canada where he was educated at the University of Manitoba
, and later worked as a journeyman carpenter and car repair estimator for the C.P.R.
He was a member of the Winnipeg School Board No.1 from 1962 to 1970, and was also involved in Jubilee Lodge #6 of the Carmen's Union and the Weston Shops ex-Servicemen's Association; the Royal Canadian Legion
and the Red River Co-operative movement. He was active in the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party
, and often spoke of J.S. Woodsworth and Tommy Douglas
as his ideological mentors.
He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969
, scoring an easy victory in the Winnipeg riding of Logan. He was re-elected in the 1973 election
and the 1977 election
. He did not serve in the cabinet
of Edward Schreyer
, but was Deputy Speaker
on two occasions and served as party Whip
in opposition. In the legislature, he often defended the social rights of workers and the unemployed.
In 1981, he was appointed to the Manitoba Rent Review Board and retired from politics. He and his family enjoyed their cottage at Loni Beach in Gimli
after this time.
Jenkins died March 7, 1995 following a struggle of several months with colorectal cancer
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a New Democratic
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1969 to 1981.
Jenkins was raised in the Souris
Souris, Manitoba
Souris is a town in the southwestern portion of the Canadian province of Manitoba, 2006 population 1,772, total including Glenwood Municipality is 2,412. It is located on the Souris River, from which it takes its name. The town is home to Canada's longest historic cable-stayed footbridge , known...
region. He served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and saw combat with the Canadian Scottish Regiment in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was wounded in action after the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
invasion in the city of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, France. He married
Elizabeth Ineson of Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
England and they subsequently had three children, Linda, Ross and Terry after returning home to Canada where he was educated at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, and later worked as a journeyman carpenter and car repair estimator for the C.P.R.
He was a member of the Winnipeg School Board No.1 from 1962 to 1970, and was also involved in Jubilee Lodge #6 of the Carmen's Union and the Weston Shops ex-Servicemen's Association; the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
and the Red River Co-operative movement. He was active in the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, and often spoke of J.S. Woodsworth and Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
as his ideological mentors.
He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1969
Manitoba general election, 1969
The Manitoba General Election of June 25, 1969 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was a watershed moment in the province's political history. The social-democratic New Democratic Party emerged for the first time as the largest party in...
, scoring an easy victory in the Winnipeg riding of Logan. He was re-elected in the 1973 election
Manitoba general election, 1973
The Manitoba General Election of June 28, 1973 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the social-democratic New Democratic Party, which took 31 of 57 seats...
and the 1977 election
Manitoba general election, 1977
The Manitoba general election of October 11, 1977 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 33 seats out of 57...
. He did not serve in the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
, but was Deputy Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
on two occasions and served as party Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in opposition. In the legislature, he often defended the social rights of workers and the unemployed.
In 1981, he was appointed to the Manitoba Rent Review Board and retired from politics. He and his family enjoyed their cottage at Loni Beach in Gimli
Gimli, Manitoba
Gimli is a a rural municipality located in the Interlake region of south-central Manitoba, Canada, on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. It is about north of the provincial capital Winnipeg...
after this time.
Jenkins died March 7, 1995 following a struggle of several months with colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
.