Educator, businessman, fiddler.
Born at Winnipeg on 30 July 1943 to Minnie Harariculk (1921-1991) and Lorne Burl Forman (1915-1978), he was raised at Rivers with his four sisters and attended Rivers Collegiate. Music played a large role in his life. He was a skilled fiddler, bass guitarist, and accordion player, and moonlighted on the CKX Television show with the band, the Country Gentlemen, and later, the Western Union while earning Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees from Brandon University.
On 20 June 1964, he married Bette Mae Lorraine Anderson (1943-1923) and together they raised their three children, as well as Bette’s two younger sisters. His career in education began as a science teacher with the Rolling River School Division at Rivers Collegiate, which propelled him into the role of the Division’s Science Coordinator.
However, his interests were varied and in 1973 he launched Forman Motors, which eventually grew to include Forman Ford at Dauphin (1983) and Northland Ford at The Pas (1993). A passion for aviation led to his acquiring his pilot license and a private airplane in 1976. Ever the educator, he passed on his love of flying to his youngest son, Jason Forman, who became a senior captain with Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, and his love of business to his oldest son Kent Forman, who became owner of Forman Honda and Forman Mazda in Brandon. Meanwhile, he was a sought-after performer and recording artist who toured frequently, eventually together with his son, Kent, as a fiddling duo.
In 2009, he retired from business and relocated to Victoria, British Columbia. He died there on 17 November 2011 and was buried in the Rivers Cemetery. In 2013, he was inducted posthumously into the Manitoba Fiddle Association Wall of Fame.
Obituary, Brandon Sun, 26 November 2011.
Obituary [Bette Mae Lorraine Anderson], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 December 2023.
“Barry Forman,” Manitoba Fiddle Association.
“Barry William Forman,” Harvey-Abildgard Family Tree, Ancestry.
Barry William Forman, FindAGrave.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 11 December 2025
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