He came to Winnipeg in 1911 and worked as a building contractor. During the First World War and Second World War, he was a member of the Winnipeg police force. On 14 January 1914, he married Williamina “Minnie” Grant (1889-1981) at Winnipeg and they had three children: Margaret Donella Kellas (1914-2006), Francis James “Frank” Kellas (c1917-1990), and Douglas Alexander “Doug” Kellas (1923-2006). He died at his Winnipeg home, 530 Renfrew Street, on 18 May 1960 and was buried in the Garry Memorial Park.
Some of his construction work in Manitoba included:
Building
Location
Year
Status
1401 Main Street, Winnipeg
1933
Marriage registration [James Alexander Kellas, Williamina Grant], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Birth registrations [Margaret Donella Kellas, Douglas Alexander Kellas], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 19 May 1960, page 26.
Obituary [Williamina Kellas], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 1981, page 49.
Obituary [Francis James Kellas], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 April 1990, page 33.
Obituary [Margaret Donella Kellas], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 January 2006.
Obituary [Douglas Alexander Kellas], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 October 2006.
We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 12 October 2025
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