Lawyer, judge.
Born in Winnipeg on 19 May 1932, son of Ernest John Jewers and Kathleen Victoria Green (1897-1984), he attended Riverview School, Lord Roberts School, and Kelvin High School. He graduated with law degrees from the University of Manitoba (LLB 1955, LLM 1957) and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1956.
He practiced law in the area of civil litigation and was a managing partner at Fillmore Riley. He appeared before all levels of courts in Manitoba and in the Supreme Court of Canada. He was an active member of the Manitoba Bar Association (President, 1975-1976) and was made a Queen's Counsel (1976). He served as a Judge on the County Court (1977-1984) and Court of Queen's Bench (1984-2007).
He chaired an inquiry into the role of private operators in Manitoba lotteries that resulted in establishment of the Manitoba Lotteries Commission. He served on the Manitoba Law Reform Commission. After stepping down as a judge, he resumed the practice of law, volunteering at the Legal Help Centre and acting as a commercial arbitrator until final retirement in 2024. He wrote several articles and two books on the law: Manitoba Justice: A History of Manitoba Law and Lawyers (2013) and Conducting a Civil or Family Case in Manitoba (2023).
On 21 August 1954, he married Claire Woodcock (1932-2019) and they subsequently had three daughters. The family had a summer cottage at Victoria Beach. He was an avid skier and golfer. He and his wife were regular attendees at performances of the Prairie Theatre Exchange, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.
He died at Winnipeg on 2 February 2026.
“Trousseau tea held for Claire Woodcock,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 August 1954, page 14.
Obituary [Claire Jewers], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 October 2019.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 2026.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 14 February 2026
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