Greg Thomas

Historian, historical administrator.

He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. The son of a university history professor, Greg's introduction to Canadian history came during his years at St. Johns Ravenscourt in the late 1960s. A wonderful history teacher named Tom Bredin instilled in him a life-long interest in Canada's past. After graduating from St. Johns Ravenscourt in 1969, Greg entered the University of Alberta where he pursued an Honours Degree in Canadian History and Economics. Lured by the climate and the opportunity to play rugby year-round, Greg proceeded to Vancouver in 1973 where he completed his Masters Degree in History in 1976.

During his graduate years Greg had been engaged by Parks Canada to do a survey of Alberta's historic ranches. This introduction to the public service led to a job offer as a Parks Canada historian located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since 1976, Greg has lived and worked in Winnipeg. His early work for Parks Canada focussed upon the fur trade sites such as Lower Fort Garry, York Factory, and Fort Prince of Wales. Greg then moved on to positions in the Interpretation and Planning divisions before assuming his current role as the Manager of Cultural Resources Services in the Western Canada Service Centre. This position involves overseeing a number of professional functions, which include history, archaeology, resource conservation, and collection management. This group of professionals provides services to national historic sites and national historic parks throughout western and northern Canada.

Shortly after arriving in Winnipeg, Greg joined the Manitoba Historical Society and became involved in its different programs. For many years he was the chair of the Ross House Committee and led the process, which led to the relocation of Ross House from Higgins Avenue to its current location in Point Douglas. Greg joined the executive of the Historical Society in the early 1980s and eventually served as President, 1986-1988. Greg has also been involved in other facets of Manitoba's heritage community. Since 1988 he has been a member of the Forks Heritage Advisory Committee He has also been a long-time member of the Historic Winnipeg Advisory Committee which provides direction to the City of Winnipeg on developments within the Historic Exchange district. In 2003 Greg was appointed as a federal representative on the City of Winnipeg Historic Buildings Committee.

Greg is married to Sheila Grover, a fellow historian, and they reside in St. Vital with their three children Jamie, Catherine and Christopher. Greg continues to so some historic research and writing as a hobby. In February 2004, he collaborated with Rob Gillespie on a presentation on Humourous Aspects and Manitoba's Past, which was presented as a Manitoba Historical Society program.

His articles for the Manitoba Historical Society:

An Interview with Moses Neepin
Manitoba History, Number 5, 1983

Review: Debra Lindsay (editor), The Modern Beginnings of Subarctic Ornithology, Northern Correspondence with the Smithsonian Institution, 1856-68
Manitoba History, Number 25, Spring 1993

Profile revised: 27 December 2008