Memorable Manitobans: Robert Burns Thompson (1861-1947)

Farmer, municipal official.

Born at Arthur, Ontario in 1856, he came to Manitoba in 1882 where he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway at Portage la Prairie. As the railway moved across the prairies, he continued west until he ended up on the Bow River in Alberta, cutting ties for a track through Calgary. He and some companions saw steam rising in the mountains and, after exploring on their days off, discovered the Banff Hot Springs. Returning to Manitoba, he took up a farmstead at NE10-9-20 southwest of Brandon.

In March 1891 he married Jennie Rae Scott. They had three sons: Leslie, William A. (b 1896), and Walter (b 1910). His wife died in 1910 and he was remarried to Elizabeth Birks. He served for 49 years as a councillor in the Rural Municipality of Whitehead and, in this capacity, attended the 1905 founding meeting in Brandon of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities.

He died at Brandon in November 1947.

Sources:

“R. B. Thompson Family”, Whitehead Wanderings: 1883-1983, Whitehead-Alexander Centennial Committee, 1985, pages 219-220. [Manitoba Legislative Library]

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 22 November 2008

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