Tobias Norris - the Liberal Premier who moved Manitoba ahead

Monday I was at the Virden Collegiate Institute talking about Toby Norris, the Liberal Premier from 1915-1922 who came from Griswold, just east of Virden.

Norris led one of the most activist and reformist governments in the history of Manitoba. In addition to introducing the vote for women, Norris introduced the most progressive social legislation of any province to that date.

The historian Margaret McWilliams said of Norris's government "Nothing, perhaps, in the whole history of Manitoba is more interesting or stimulating that the speed with which, from generally being counted as one of the backward provinces, the province came to stand at the forefront of the whole dominion in laws concerning social matters."

The years 1915-1922 were an exciting time for Manitoba - and it all started with Toby Norris - who grew up in Griswold - operated a livery stable, traded horses, sang in the Griswold choir and was one of the best auctioneers of his day.

To learn more about Norris, see Battling for a Better Manitoba ( http://www.hrtlandbooks.com/books/battling.htm)

In the photo above, I am standing in the Virden Collegiate Institute library with Glen McKinnon - former principal at the Collegiate and former Member of Parliament for Brandon Souris (1993-1997).