Memorable Manitobans: Mary Elisabeth Brugger Dolin (1936-1985)

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Mary Elisabeth Brugger Dolin
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Educator, MLA (1982-1985).

Born at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1936, she was educated at Webster College (St. Louis, Missouri) before immigrating to Canada with her family in 1968. She was known by other married names: Higgins (1957-1966) and Andrus (1966-1979). She taught at Island Lake and Hodgson before moving to the Seven Oaks School Division in 1974 as a junior-high teacher of music and drama.

She had been promoted to Vice-Principal at the time of her election as MLA for Kildonan in November 1981. Dolin served as Minister of Labour and Manpower (1982-1985), Minister of Urban Affairs (1983-1985), and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women (1982-1985) in the NDP government from 1982 to 1985. She initiated pioneering reforms to pension legislation for women and reforms to labour legislation.

Stricken with breast cancer, she succumbed to the disease on 6 April 1985. Her husband Marty Dolin was then elected at a by-election to fill her former seat in the Legislature. Her papers (restricted access) are at the Archives of Manitoba.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 10 April 1985, page 40.

Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 29 November 2022

Memorable Manitobans

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.

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