Architect, city planner.
Born at Winnipeg in 1940, son of Sam Letinsky (1907-1998) and Sophie Mozart (1912-1995), he attended Aberdeen School and the University of Manitoba, receiving a degree in Architecture from the latter, in 1969. He worked as an urban design coordinator for the City of Winnipeg from 1970 until his death, being responsible for development of the Old Market Square area. He had worked to redevelop the former site of the Royal Alexandra Hotel as a public space but the project was never completed. In 1980, he published the book Ed Letinsky’s Sketch Book.
He and wife Ada had a daughter. He was an artist who sculpted, did photography, and at the time of his death was working on a book on karate. He was an avid skier and runner.
On 13 October 1980, he was killed in a farming accident on his property at Oakbank. He is commemorated by a monument in downtown Winnipeg on which he is described as the “architect of the people”. A short section of Albert Street was renamed Letinsky Place around 1981. The roadway was decommissioned in 2001, sold to a developer, and converted into a parking lot.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Edward Letinsky Monument (King Street, Winnipeg)
Marriage registration [Sam Letinsky, Sophie Mozart], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 15 October 1980, page 94.
“What is the shortest street,” by Randal McIlroy, Winnipeg Free Press, 16 February 1982, page 29.
Obituary [Sophie Letinsky], Winnipeg Free Press, 7 October 1995, page 62.
Obituary [Sam Letinsky], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 December 1998, page 43.
“City sells back lane,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 2001, page A14.
Remembering Ed Letinsky by Christian Cassidy, West End Dumplings.
We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 July 2025
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