Memorable Manitobans: Keith Alan Cosens (1932-1990

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Keith Alan Cosens
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Educator, MLA (1977-1981).

Born at Teulon on 7 July 1932, he was raised on the family farm near Argyle. He was educated at Stonewall Collegiate and obtained BA, BEd, and MEd degrees from the University of Manitoba. He began his teaching career at Kelwood School (?-?) and also taught at Wawanesa School (?-?) and Rosser School (1959-1961) before returning to Stonewall Collegiate in 1961, becoming its Vice-Principal in 1965. He served as President of the Interlake Teachers’ Association and a provincial Executive Member of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. He was elected to the Manitoba Legislature for the Gimli constituency at the 1977 general election and served as Minister of Education and Continuing Education and Manpower (1977-1978) and Minister of Education (1978-1981). He was defeated at the 1981 general election and later served as Executive Director of the provincial Progressive Conservative party. In 1988 he was hired as a special projects coordinator for the Department of Northern Affairs. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. He died of cancer at Winnipeg on 27 April 1990 and was buried in the Stonewall Cemetery.

Sources:

“Former education minister Cosens dies,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 April 1990, page 11.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 29 April 1990, page 24.

Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 19 November 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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