Memorable Manitobans: Thomas Clement “Tommy” Douglas (1904-1986)

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Thomas Clement Douglas
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Cleric, politician.

Born at Camelon, Falkirk, Scotland in 1904, son of Thomas Douglas and Annie Clement, he came to Canada with his family in 1910 and settled at Winnipeg. During the First World War, the family returned to Scotland for a time, returning after the war ended. In 1924, he enrolled at Brandon College to finish high school and study theology. He graduated in 1930. During his subsequent career as a cleric, he served at Knox Presbyterian Church at Carberry, among other places.

On 30 August 1930, he married Irma May Dempsey (1911-1995) at Brandon and they had a daughter, Shirley Douglas (1934-2020). He was awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Manitoba (1961), Brandon University (1970), and the University of Winnipeg (1984).

He died at Ottawa, Ontario on 24 February 1986 and was buried there. He is commemorated by the Knowles-Douglas Building at Brandon University.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Citizens’ Science Building / Knowles-Douglas Student Union Centre (270 Eighteenth Street, Brandon)

Thomas Clement Douglas by Gregory P. Marchildon, Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Sources:

Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 October 2023

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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