Memorable Manitobans: Paul Bardal (1889-1966)

Paul Bardal Click to enlarge

Undertaker, municipal official, MLA (1941-1945), MLA (1950-1953).

Born at Winnipeg on 5 November 1889, son of Icelandic immigrants Paul Sigurgeirsson Bardal (1853-1929) and Halldora “Dora” Bjornson (1865-1943), brother of Sigurgeir Bardal and nephew of Olafur Bjornson, he was educated at Somerset School and Pinkham School. During the First World War, he served in the Royal Air Force.

He managed the A. S. Bardal Funeral Service, located at 841 Sherbrooke Street, Winnipeg. He was founding President of the Funeral Directors Association of Canada and President of the Manitoba Funeral Directors Association. From 1931 to 1941, he was a Winnipeg city alderman. Defeated as a Liberal-Progressive candidate for Winnipeg in the 1936 provincial general election, he was elected at the 1941 general election, defeated in 1945, and elected in 1949.

He was married twice, first on 6 August 1919 to Anna Vopni (1897-1920, daughter of Jon Jonnson Vopni) and second on 27 October 1926 to Oddny Bergson (?-?, daughter of John Bergson) of Winnipeg. He had one child, Sigrid Bardal (1930-2020, wife of William James McKee). A well-known baritone, he sang at Knox United Church, Augustine United Church, and First Lutheran Church. He was conductor of the First Lutheran choir for 30 years and conductor of the Icelandic Choral Society and Icelandic Male Voice Choir. He was a member of the Winnipeg Oratorio Society and Men's Musical Club.

He died at the Grace Hospital on 6 February 1966 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery.

Sources:

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1943.

“Icelandic pioneer dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 October 1943, page 15.

“Somerset pupils today have art collection legacy,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 February 1949.

“Today’s Pinkhamites ‘enjoy’ relating tales of fire” by Claire Tisdale, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 February 1949.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 7 February 1966, page 25.

Obituary [Sigrid Margaret McKee], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 December 2020.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 6 July 2022

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. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!