William John McKeag
Encyclopedia
William John McKeag, CM
, OM
, CD
(17 March 1928 – 23 August 2007) was a retired Manitoba
politician and office-holder. He served as the province's 17th Lieutenant Governor
between 1970 and 1976.
McKeag was born in Winnipeg, and was educated at the University of Manitoba
. He served as General Manager of Security Storage Limited (a family business) from 1952 until his appointment in 1970. He also established the McKeag-Harris Reality and Development company in 1960.
In 1958, McKeag ran for the Manitoba legislature as a Liberal-Progressive
candidate in the upscale Winnipeg riding of River Heights. This was the year in which Dufferin Roblin
's Progressive Conservatives
ended forty-three years of Liberal and Progressive rule, and McKeag was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate W.B. Scarth.
From 1966 to 1969, McKeag was a councilor in the town of Tuxedo, prior to its merger with Winnipeg. He was also Chairman of the Greater Winnipeg Election Committee from 1968 to 1970.
McKeag, at the age of 42, was the youngest Lieutenant Governor in Manitoba's history when he was appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 1970. However, the office of Lieutenant Governor is a ceremonial post, and he had almost no practical influence over the government of Edward Schreyer
.
McKeag was appointed to the Order of Canada
in 1996, and the Order of Manitoba
in 2000.
McKeag died on 23 August 2007 at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife, Dawn, who is the daughter of former Premier Douglas Campbell
as well as three daughters and one son.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OM
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(17 March 1928 – 23 August 2007) was a retired Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician and office-holder. He served as the province's 17th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
between 1970 and 1976.
McKeag was born in Winnipeg, and 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...
. He served as General Manager of Security Storage Limited (a family business) from 1952 until his appointment in 1970. He also established the McKeag-Harris Reality and Development company in 1960.
In 1958, McKeag ran for the Manitoba legislature as a Liberal-Progressive
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
candidate in the upscale Winnipeg riding of River Heights. This was the year in which Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin Roblin
Dufferin "Duff" Roblin, PC, CC, OM was a Canadian businessman and politician. Known as "Duff," he served as the 14th Premier of Manitoba from 1958 to 1967. Roblin was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. In the government of Brian Mulroney, he served as...
's Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
ended forty-three years of Liberal and Progressive rule, and McKeag was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate W.B. Scarth.
From 1966 to 1969, McKeag was a councilor in the town of Tuxedo, prior to its merger with Winnipeg. He was also Chairman of the Greater Winnipeg Election Committee from 1968 to 1970.
McKeag, at the age of 42, was the youngest Lieutenant Governor in Manitoba's history when he was appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 1970. However, the office of Lieutenant Governor is a ceremonial post, and he had almost no practical influence over the government 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....
.
McKeag was appointed to the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1996, and the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
in 2000.
McKeag died on 23 August 2007 at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife, Dawn, who is the daughter of former Premier Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
as well as three daughters and one son.
External links
- Official Biography from The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
- Obituary from the Winnipeg Free Press
- http://gg.ca/honours/pdf/OCnewsWinter2008.pdf Death notice in the Order of Canada newsletter.