 |
Gunnar Solmundur Thorvaldson
|
Lawyer, MLA (1941-1945), MLA (1946-1949), Senator.
Born at Riverton on 18 March 1901, son of Sveinn Thorvaldson and Margret Solmundson (1877-1919), he was educated at Riverton School, University of Saskatchewan (BA 1922), and the University of Manitoba (LLB 1925).
For many years he headed his own law firm of Thorvaldson and Company. It later merged with Aikins MacAulay and Company to form Aikins MacAulay and Thorvaldson, of which he was senior partner at the time of his death. He was made a King’s Counsel in 1943. He served as a Bencher for the Law Society of Manitoba (1947-1959), President of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce (1952-1953), President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (1954-1955), President of the Law Society of Manitoba (1956-1957), and President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1959-1961).
On 9 October 1926, he married Edna Eva Schwitzer (1901-1999, daughter of John Edward Schwitzer) of Winnipeg. They had three daughters: Eleanor Edna Thorvaldson (1928-2021, wife of Robert K. “Bob” Siddall), Nora Jean Thorvaldson (?-1997, wife of Roger James Hansell), and Ruth Thorvaldson (wife of ? Gair). He was a Director of the International Loan Company and Viking Press Limited. He was a member of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg, Empire Club, Winnipeg Conservative Club, Winnipeg Winter Club, and United Church of Canada. Defeated in the 1932 and 1936 provincial elections and 1935 federal election, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislature at the 1941 general election and was re-elected in 1945. He served until 1949 when he was defeated in the federal election. In 1958, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
He died at Winnipeg on 2 August 1969 and, after a funeral in Knox United Church, he was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Millman House (287 Kingsway, Winnipeg)
The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1943.
“Eight Manitobans appointed K.C.’s,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 January 1943, page 8.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (deceased), Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 August 1969.
“‘Highest tribute’ paid Sen. Thorvaldson,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 August 1969, page 3.
Obituary [Nora Jean Hansell], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 June 1997, page 22.
Obituary [Edna Eva Thorvaldson], Winnipeg Free Press, 10 April 1999, page 53.
Obituary [Eleanor Edna Siddall], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 2021.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 28 April 2026
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text:
Custom SearchBrowse surnames beginning with:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | ZBrowse deaths occurring in:
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.caCriteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements
Help us keep
history alive!
