Building engineer, civil servant.
Born at Stillwater, Minnesota around 1885, he graduated in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1910. He came to Winnipeg the next year and worked as a construction engineer with Sutherland Construction Company until 1925. He became a partner in the firm of Borrowman and Jamieson Limited until 1930 when he was elected to the Winnipeg City Council (1930-1932).
He joined the city assessment department in 1932. He became the city assessment commissioner two years later, having responsibility for the valuation of land and building in Winnipeg. He held the position for 25 years.
On 31 July 1912, he married Mary Edith Murray Borrowman (c1880-1964) at Winnipeg and they had two sons and a daughter. He was a member of the Carleton Club (President), Kiwanis Club (President), Westminster United Church, Khartum Shriners, Lake George Fishing Club, and Whittles Point Gun Club.
He died at Winnipeg on 5 April 1957 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. Soon after his death, his widow helped to save the Wolseley Elm. He is commemorated by Borrowman Place in Winnipeg.
Some of his construction work in Manitoba included:
Building
Location
Year
Status
Grace Hospital (addition)
200 Arlington Street, Winnipeg
1926
Demolished (?)
336 William Avenue, Winnipeg
1927
920 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg
1929
Demolished (2022)
Geddes House (alterations)
33 Middle Gate, Winnipeg
1930
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Borrowman House (1192 Wolseley Avenue, Winnipeg)
Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Former city assessment chief dies at age of 72,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 April 1957, page 34.
Obituary [Edith Mary Borrowman], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 1964, page 25.
“Know your Metro street names” by Vince Leah, Winnipeg Tribune, 14 February 1970.
We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 13 January 2024
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