Lawyer.
Born at Winnipeg on 14 August 1913, son of Philip Walsh (1880-1928) and Faigel “Fanny” Mastensky (?-1966), he attended St. John’s High School (1926-1929). After attending the Manitoba Law School, he was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1937.
For 63 years he was a principal in the law firm of Walsh Micay and Company, with partner Archie Micay. Following Micay’s death in 1998, the firm became known as Walsh and Company and he remained with it to his death, becoming one of the longest serving lawyers in Canada. He was made a Queen’s Counsel in 1954 and he served as a Bencher for the Law Society of Manitoba. He played a central role in the abolition of the death penalty in Canada, in 1976.
He was married twice, first on 6 August 1939 to Ruth Adelaide Kosasky (?-1963) and they had two children. He later married Irene Oleinikov Walsh. A prominent member of Winnipeg’s Jewish community, in 1964 he was a co-founder of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. In recognition of his service to the community, Walsh was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Manitoba (2003) and was inducted into the Order of Canada (2010).
He died at Winnipeg on 24 February 2011 and was buried in the Bnay Abraham Cemetery.
Birth registration [Harry Walsh], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Marriage registration [Harry Walsh, Ruth Adelaide Kosasky], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“5 Manitoba lawyers named Queen’s Counsel,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 1953, page 3.
“Farewell to legend of the law,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 February 2011, page B9.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 25 February 2011, page B9.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
We thank Sue Gibb for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 19 May 2025
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