Memorable Manitobans: Agnes MacDonald (1908-1999)

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Agnes MacDonald
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Educator.

Born on the Isle of Skye, Scotland on 20 November 1908, daughter of Finlay MacDonald (1880-1916) and Jean MacDonald, she arrived in Canada at an early age. Around 1916, she was adopted by Robert Francis Rorke and Etta May Rorke (1875-1944), graduated with a BA degree from the University of Manitoba in 1928, and was a founding member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.

She joined the staff of the Winnipeg School Division and taught at Faraday School (?-1952) prior to being Principal of Sir Sam Steele School (1953-1954), Clifton School (1954-1956), Pembina School (1956-1958), and Mulvey School (1958-1960), before taking the role as Vice-Principal of Gordon Bell High School (1960-1963). She then became the Principal at Elmwood High School (1964-1972), after which she retired. She served as Finance Committee Chairman (1952) and President (1955-1956) of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, and was made a Life Member in 1973.

Following a lengthy and debilitating illness, she died unmarried at Winnipeg on 3 February 1999.

Sources:

1911 Canada Census, Automated Genealogy.

1916 Canada census, Library and Archives Canada.

“1,820 teachers on staff of Winnipeg School Board,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 September 1941, page 2.

“Winnipeggers in Copenhagen for world meet,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 July 1952, page 8.

“New Principals appointed to 4 schools,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 December 1952, page 3.

“Clifton H. and S. tea to be held Thursday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 November 1955, page 12.

“Workshops completed,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 October 1959, page 50.

“Staff changes announced in city schools,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 May 1960, page 3.

“Social,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1963, page 14.

“Teachers honor seven,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 March 1973, page 3.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1999, page C8.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Mireille Theriault (Manitoba Teachers’ Society) and Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 11 March 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.

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