Mayors in Thompson in the 1970s and 1980s
**Mayors of the 70s and 80’s. **I remember two mayors as I grew up, Mayor Tom Farrell and Mayor Don Maclean. I was too young to care much about politics. I always felt like they were good mayors. I know that Tom Farrell raised a wonderful family. From the few pictures I came across he was very involved in the community. Mayor Don Maclean had a park named after him. That park is around city hall. I also know that they presided over Thompson when Thompson was at the height of their population. There were also strikes going on and the expansion in the city. What was it like being mayor back then? What were some of their accomplishments? Let’s think of the positive things that were achieved. Before bringing up bad, subjective things about politics, remember, that was 40 to 50 years ago! And so here is to the mayors that helped lead Thompson in the 70’s and 80’s. Much thanks to John Barker for his writings about these mayors.
Info about Mayor Tom Farrell
After winning that first municipal election in 1966, Knight lost the rematch to Campbell on Oct. 23, 1968 by 207 votes. Campbell, the first commanding officer of the air cadet squadron here, and owner of Campbell North, defeated Knight again by 207 votes in their rubber match on Oct. 28, 1970. Three years later in 1973, Knight was convicted of a federal tax offence by Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Wallace Darichuk and sentenced to three months in jail.
In the Oct. 25, 1972 municipal election, Ald. Tom Farrell, the deputy mayor, defeated Campbell by more than 700 votes in a four-way race. Dr. Arthur Philip-Stewart was a close second while Ald. Andy Nabess placed fourth. City Hall at 226 Mystery Lake Rd. was nicknamed “Campbell’s Castle” when it opened in August 1971 on the watch of Campbell as mayor, and grand brown edifice was still very much fresh in voters’ minds during the municipal election the next year in 1972.
Farrell, a retired chairperson of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB), until July served as reeve of the Rural Municipality of Victoria Beach on the southeastern shores of Lake Winnipeg, about 100 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
https://soundingsjohnbarker.wordpress.com/tag/tom-farrell/
Farrell joined the International Nickel Company of Canada (INCO) Limited at Port Colborne, Ontario in 1959. He transferred to Thompson in November 1960 as refinery supervisor and worked at a variety of increasingly more responsible positions. From 1977 to 1989, he was the superintendent of safety and protection for the Manitoba Division of INCO. He began working for the provincial government in 1989 and from 1993 to 2003, Farrell was deputy minister of labour for the Province of Manitoba. He’s also a pretty fair ice fisherman, landing his share of Northern pike down at Setting Lake with guys like Ted Tomchuk, Harold Knox and Todd Carpick.
Farrell also refereed in the hotly contested six-team Inco shift hockey league, made up of the Refinery Buccaneers, Refinery Maroons, Refinery Canadians, Smelter Bombers, Smelter Hornets and Smelter Royals.
https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/opinion/soundings-4280049
Memorable Manitobans: Donald G. MacLean (c1921-1991)
Electrician, municipal official.
In 1961, he came to Manitoba from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia with his wife and 11 children. He worked as an electrician at INCO in Thompson. He served on the municipal council starting in 1966 and was elected Mayor of Thompson in 1977, serving until his death. He suffered a heart attack at his home and died at a Winnipeg hospital on 22 January 1991. He is commemorated by a plaque at the Thompson City Hall.
Sources:
“Thompson mayor critical after heart attack”, Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 1991, page 5.
“Hundreds pay respects to late mayor”, Winnipeg Free Press, 27 January 1991, page 6.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/maclean_dg.shtml
In 1961, Don came to Manitoba from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia with his wife Norma and their 11 children. He was employed as an electrician at INCO. Don served on the Municipal Council starting in 1966 and was elected Mayor of Thompson in 1977, serving until his death in 1991.
Don and Norma were instrumental in founding the first Salvation Army Corp in Thompson in 1962. Sunday school began in their home and Don assumed the role of chauffeur, driving 25-30 children to and from school. He was also a Cub and Scout Leader and in 1963 helped to develop the first campsite on Lake Ospwagon, hauling a bunkhouse over the ice.
Mr. MacLean was the Financial Secretary for Local 6166 for 9 years, a member of the Rotary Club, member of the Royal Canadian Legion, member of the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Association, member of the Elk’s Lodge and Boy Scouts Association as well. He was also an original member of the Board of Directors of Nickel Days. Over the years, Don and Norma also hosted forty or more young people as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange.
Don passed away on January 22, 1991. He is commemorated by the Don MacLean Memorial Tournament, a plaque at City Hall, as well as a Scout Camp Dining Hall and a local park named in his honour.
Don was always very proud of the City of Thompson and could always be spotted at the arena taking in a game.
https://www.thompsonminorhockey.ca/page/show/5975241-u15-don-maclean-2020-2021-season-
MacLean Park officially opens in October 1994. MacLean Park, previously known as “City Park”, was officially opened in honour of former Thompson mayor Don MacLean on Oct. 15, 1994.
https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/local-news/1994-2010-4274816
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