Brenda Leipsic
Encyclopedia
Brenda Leipsic was a city councillor and deputy mayor in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
.
She was well known for her work on behalf of several charities. She developed the dream home lottery concept for St. Boniface Research Foundation, creating the Dr. Goodbear personae and introduced the first Teddy Bear’s Picnic for the Children's Hospital Foundation, and co-chairing the Winnipeg Humane Society $11 million capital campaign. She served on the board of the Winnipeg Convention Centre and was also an executive member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
Prior to election, Leipsic worked primarily as a consultant.
in the 1970s and eventually rising to the position of party president from 1994 to 1998 under premier Gary Filmon
.
Despite her decades of involvement in politics, Leipsic had never run for political office. After her divorce, she ran and won election in October 2006 in River Heights-Fort Garry ward, where she defeated rookie councillor Donald Benham
. She served as the deputy mayor of Winnipeg and sat on the influential Executive Policy Committee until October 23, 2008, when Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz
named a new Executive Policy Committee.
Leipsic had taken a leave of absence from council after being diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2008. She eventually succumbed to the illness on December 9, 2008 at the age of 66.
announced that a new off-leash dog park will be named "Brenda Leipsic Park" in her honour. The park sits at the corner of Hurst Way and Parker Avenue, in Leipsic's former ward.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Background
Born in Winnipeg in 1942, daughter of Olga and William Dennis, she grew up in the city’s North End. Her junior and high school days were spent at St. Mary’s Academy and she graduated from the University of Winnipeg Collegiate. Once her children were in school full time she went back to University where she studied social sciences at the University of Manitoba receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. Her business career began in the mid 1970s with Foster Advertising under the tutelage of Laurie Mainster. She went on to develop her own consulting firm, Leipsic Communications, working with local firms to develop their advertising and marketing plans.She was well known for her work on behalf of several charities. She developed the dream home lottery concept for St. Boniface Research Foundation, creating the Dr. Goodbear personae and introduced the first Teddy Bear’s Picnic for the Children's Hospital Foundation, and co-chairing the Winnipeg Humane Society $11 million capital campaign. She served on the board of the Winnipeg Convention Centre and was also an executive member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
Prior to election, Leipsic worked primarily as a consultant.
Political Involvement
She was active in provincial politics, working for Progressive Conservative leader Sidney SpivakSidney Spivak
Sidney Spivak was a Manitoba politician. He was a Cabinet Minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin, Walter Weir and Sterling Lyon, and was himself leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1971 to 1975.Spivak was born to a Jewish family in Winnipeg, and was educated at...
in the 1970s and eventually rising to the position of party president from 1994 to 1998 under premier Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
.
Despite her decades of involvement in politics, Leipsic had never run for political office. After her divorce, she ran and won election in October 2006 in River Heights-Fort Garry ward, where she defeated rookie councillor Donald Benham
Donald Benham
Donald Benham is a Canadian journalist, teacher and politician. He graduated in journalism from Carleton University in 1975 and in Canadian studies in 1981....
. She served as the deputy mayor of Winnipeg and sat on the influential Executive Policy Committee until October 23, 2008, when Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz
Sam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
named a new Executive Policy Committee.
Leipsic had taken a leave of absence from council after being diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2008. She eventually succumbed to the illness on December 9, 2008 at the age of 66.
Posthumous
On December 16, 2008, Winnipeg Mayor Sam KatzSam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
announced that a new off-leash dog park will be named "Brenda Leipsic Park" in her honour. The park sits at the corner of Hurst Way and Parker Avenue, in Leipsic's former ward.