Jeweller, community activist.
Born at Winnipeg on 6 March 1930 to Florence Mabel Thomson (1893-1932) and Thordur Victor “Stanley” Johnson (1897-1978), he travelled as a young man to British Columbia doing several jobs, ranging from farming to logging, and eventually working at his uncle’s jewellery store. He then became a watchmaker/ jeweller for the T. Eaton Company back at Winnipeg. He was also a roller-skating instructor, and in that capacity met Shirley Louise Moran, whom he later married, and with whom he went on to have three children.
In 1963, he moved his family to Thompson, seeking the opportunities the north had to offer. Together with his wife, he created Don Johnson Jewellers and Johnson’s Plaza Florist, among other ventures. For seven years, he hosted a radio program every morning on CHTM called “The Dawn Patrol.” At the same time, he served as a volunteer for a number of organizations: as President of the Thompson Rotary Club and an active member for 48 years, receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Award and Rotarian of the Year; President of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce; President of the Highway 6 Association; and President of the Board of Nickel Days. In 1980, he had the honour of being invited to be a group leader for HRH Duke of Edinburgh 5th Commonwealth Study Conference of Canada. In 1997, he received the Manitoba Travel Award in Innovation acknowledging his involvement in the building of the Suspension Bridge at Pisew Falls. He and his wife were also founding members of the Thompson Community Foundation.
An avid fisherman and hunter and a staunch supporter of Ducks Unlimited, he and his son would travel the 1000 kilometres each year from Thompson to Reston for the hunt. He enjoyed fishing at the North Grassy River and nature in general, and in retirement, spending time in the summer at Paint Lake and Grand Marais, and then wintering at Naples, Florida. He was also well known for the buns he baked.
He died at the St. Boniface Hospital on 9 May 2011.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 14 May 2011.
“Donald Clifford ‘Don’ Johnson,” Rick Dondo Family Tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 18 December 2025
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