Edward Robert McGill was born on September 21, 1912 in Vancouver, BC. The family returned to Manitoba in 1919, and settled in Brandon, MB. Ed received his schooling in Brandon, including one year at Brandon College before he enrolled at Queen's University. Graduating in 1934, with a Bachelor of Commerce, Ed was employed by Inco at Sudbury before enlisting in the RCAF in 1940. He was posted to No. 4 Service Flying School in Saskatoon and subsequently became a flying instructor. While in Saskatoon Ed married Marguarite Eve Shaw (1918-1992) on May 30, 1942. Together they had four children: Mickey, Douglas, Patricia and Frances. From Saskatoon, Ed was posted to No. 19 EFTS in Virden where he became C.S.D. In 1943, Ed was sent overseas with the City of Edmonton 418 Night Intruder Squadron. In 1944, he was appointed CO of "B" flight and promoted to squadron leader.
Ed returned to Brandon in 1946, where he was appointed secretary manager of the Brandon Flying Club. While in this position, Ed also served as chief flying instructor, airport manager, co-founder and president of Maple Leaf Aviation and helped to organize the Flying Farmers in Manitoba. Upon his retirement in 1971, the Brandon Airport was renamed McGill Field to honor his contribution to aviation in western Manitoba. In 1969, Ed was elected to the Manitoba Legislature as the member for Brandon West. He was re-elected in 1973 and 1977, then retired from active politics in 1981.
Ed was committed to community service, and was a past president of the Brandon Kinsmen Club, the Brandon Gegneral Hospital (BGH) board of directors, the Brandon Golf and Country Club and the Wasagaming Golf Club. He served as a member of the Brandon Police Commission and was appointed to the federal Civil Aviation Tribunal. Ed was a member of Tweed Lodge #113 AF & AM, a member of the Brandon Scottish Rite and past master of the Brandon Chapter of Rose Croix. Edward McGill died on December 3, 1996 in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with the Honorable Edward McGill about his life history. Interviewer is Marjorie Lange.
Notes
History/bio information taken from the records and McGill's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Phyllis Field Cooper was born on July 22, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended the Chicago Art Institute. Phyllis emigrated to Canada in March 1918, where she worked briefly for Mr. and Mrs. Archie Cooper near Treesbank, MB, before she moved to Winnipeg to teach a juvenile art class connected with the Winnipeg School of Art. In fall 1920, Phyllis went to work in the office of a Winnipeg insurance company. That same year her parents and brother moved to the Treesbank area. Phyllis moved home to work at the Treesbank store, before the entire family moved back to Chicago in 1923.
Phyllis married Archibald Cooper (1868-1953) on August 26, 1933, and the couple moved to Winnipeg. They did not have children. During their time in Winnipeg, Phyllis worked as an interior designer, a vocalist and a writer, writing articles for the Winnipeg Free Press and the Winnipeg Tribune. She was a member of the Philharmonic choir in Winnipeg and an Honorary Life Member of the Winnipeg Sketch Club. She moved to Glenboro in 1955, following the death of her husband. In Glenboro she gave piano and art lessons for several years. Phyllis Field Cooper died in August 1987. She is buried at Millford Cemetery in Treesbank, MB.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Phyllis Field Cooper about her life. Interviewer is Irene Brown.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the Glenboro local history "Beneath the long grass." Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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