Memorable Manitobans: Alfred Vernon Thomas (1875-1950)

A. V. Thomas Click to enlarge

Journalist.

Born at Manchester, England on 2 November 1875, he attended Manchester Grammar School and served in Europe as a representative of a lace manufacturer. He regularly contributed to the Guardian while living abroad. Thomas embarked for Canada in 1905 as part of a round-the-world tour. He remained in the country, reaching Winnipeg around 1914. After three years with the Manitoba Free Press he lost his job because of his anti-conscription attitudes. He went to New York, returning to Winnipeg in 1923 to begin a career with the Winnipeg Tribune that ended only with his retirement in 1944. Municipal editor of the Tribune, he held strong views in favour of municipal ownership of utilities. He served as President of the Winnipeg Press Club in 1934.

Husband of Lillian Beynon.

He died at his Winnipeg home, 213 Furby Street, on 11 September 1950 and was buried at Brookside Cemetery.

Sources:

“Veteran newsman, Alfred V. Thomas dies in Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 September 1950. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 152]

“A. V. Thomas, former city hall editor dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 September 1950. [Manitoba Legislative Library, Biographical Scrapbook B10, page 152]

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by J. M. Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 28 July 2012

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