Memorable Manitobans: Albert Bruce Downing (1889-1960)

Businessman, community activist.

Born at St. Mary’s, Ontario, he moved to Brandon, Manitoba in 1907 to work in the office of the A. E. McKenzie Seed Company, eventually becoming Secretary to its Board of Directors. He also served for many yeras on the Brandon School Board and played a leading role in establishing the Brandon Public Library, chairing the Library Board for several years. He was on the Boards for the YMCA, Brandon College, and was President of the Brandon branch of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. He died at Brandon on 31 May 1960 and was buried in Brandon Cemetery.

Sources:

“Businessman A. B. Downing dies at 72”, Winnipeg Free Press, 2 June 1960. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B12, page 27]

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 6 December 2011

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