Memorable Manitobans: James Albert “Jimmy” Creighton (1905-1990)

Athlete, Brandon Mayor (1952-1955, 1958-1961).

Born at Brandon on 18 November 1905, he attended the University of Manitoba where he played hockey for the school’s team, the Bisons, before moving on to play for the Melville Millionaires, and for Brandon’s Wheat Kings. He then played in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Falcons in 1931. He was traded to the New York Americans but never played officially for the team. He then began playing in the International Hockey League. He became a professional referee and a general insurance salesman in Brandon.

Creighton served as a city alderman in 1946, 1948 and 1949, and two terms as Mayor, from 1952 to 1955 and 1958 to 1961. He ran for the Liberal party in the 1953 and 1962 provincial general elections but was defeated each time by Reginald Lissaman. He was defeated in the 1953 federal general election by Walter Dinsdale.

On 2 May 1931, he married Helen Frederica Bennest (1907-1994, daughter of Frederick Charles Bennest) at Hamiota. They had a son, Frederick Creighton, who played and coached in the National Hockey League.

He died at Brandon on 29 May 1990, from the long-term effects of Parkinson's disease, and was buried in the Brandon Cemetery. He is commemorated by Creighton Boulevard in Brandon.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba VItal Statistics.

“Popular former mayor dies at 86,” Brandon Sun, 30 May 1990, page 2.

Grave transcriptions, Brandon Cemetery.

Lost Hockey.com

Legends of Hockey

This page was prepared by Angela Graham and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 June 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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