The Centennial for Winkler - a tribute to Valentine Winkler

The City of Winkler was named after Valentine Winkler. Valentine Winkler was born in Ontario and moved to Manitoba in 1879. He established his own grain and lumber business in Morden in 1883, and subsequently set up a grain elevator and lumber business at the site where Winkler is located today.

Valentine Winkler was elected the MLA for the area in 1892. A Liberal, he served in the government of Premier Thomas Greenway.

Valentine Winkler continued as the MLA after the defeat of Thomas Greenway's government in 1900. He served in oppostion and worked closely with Tobias Norris to return the Liberals to power in 1915. From 1915 until 1920 Valentine Winkler served as the Minister of Agriculture and Immigration in Norris's government. During this period he introduced many initiatives to help farmers.