Bernie Wolfe - Narrative

Narrative

Mr. Bernard (Bernie) R. Wolfe (born: November 1922 –) has spent his lifetime serving his community, province and country. He is best known for being a longtime city councilor and his work as heritage advocate. While he was associated with the downtown Y.M.C.A., his leadership skills were honed during his tenure heading the various committees. The Y.M.C.A. recognized his contributions by awarding him their Golden "S" Award in 1951. During the years of World War 2, his poor vision, which would lead later on in his career to his trademark black, horned-rimmed "Coke" bottle bottom thick glasses, prevented him from actively serving in the Canadian military. Undaunted, Bernie was determined to serve his country and his community by working on the home front. He was actively involved with the recycling, rationing and Civil Defense. As a long time school trustee for the Transcona –Springfield School Division he helped direct the construction of most of the current schools within the division, including Murdock McKay, Transcona and Springfield Collegiates. He also a played a major role in the decision to consolidate the numerous, widely dispersed elementary schools located in the R.M. of Springfield and centralise the division's transportation system. As one of the founding partners of Ernst, Liddle & Wolfe, Bernie lead a successful career as an insurance underwriter. The firm provided insurance and investment coverage for Western Canada and Northwest Ontario, from the firm's headquarters in the Paris Building, situated in the heart of the prosperous business centre of Winnipeg on Portage Avenue, just west of Main Street. The last file that Bernie closed while working for his company was the tragic, accidental fire which destroyed the St. Boniface Basilica in July 1968. In 1960 he was a founding member and councilor of the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg, which helped shape the development of the City of Winnipeg, the twelve surrounding cities, and adjacent rural municipalities. He served as council of Metro until the amalgamation of all the cities that made up Metropolitan Winnipeg in 1971. In 1971, as councilor for the newly created City of Winnipeg, it was his persistence and dedication that saw the need to create the Winnipeg Convention Centre. The economic spinoffs generated since its construction has proven that his vision for a structure that was capable of hosting everything from small corporate meetings up to full scale trade shows, concerts, and sporting events was a necessity that the city required to become a destination centre for trade and tourism. The City of Winnipeg was further unified under Mr. Wolfe as he fought arduously for the construction of the Nairn Avenue overpass. This overpass not only provided a vital link between the downtown core and the new suburb of Transcona, but it solved the unavoidable traffic congestion that resulted from the previous level crossing on the Canadian Pacific Railway main line. He was also instrumental in the creation of Lagimodière Boulevard that is a vital link in north-south traffic on the eastern side of the city. This roadway provides a quick and convenient route for thousands of Winnipeggers everyday commuting to and from work. It also is a roadway that gives quick egress from the city to the vast recreational and cottages areas located to the northeast city in Whiteshell and Grand Beach Provincial Parks and beyond. His work with Joe Guay, M.P. for St. Boniface, resulted in the decisions to locate the Revenue Canada Taxation Centre and the Royal Canadian Mint in Transcona and St. Boniface, respectively. His contribution of the Transportation Committee while a member of the Federation of Canadian Mayors and Municipalities was remembered particularly for crafting the position paper presented at the Toronto Tri-Level Conference in the fall of 1972. During his tenure as Commissioner for the Canadian Transport Commission he presided over momentous changes in Canada's transportation industry. One of the major changes that came about was the decision regarding rail relocation for the City of Regina. This decision allowed the City of Regina, Province of Saskatchewan, the railways and the federal government to work together to move the railways' established centre of operation outside of the City of Regina, to enable the city to eliminate the inherent problems and costs associated having major rail lines dissecting the city and street system . As a founding member and President of Heritage Winnipeg, Bernie was influential in gaining heritage status for many of the City of Winnipeg's downtown exchange buildings that were constructed during the early 1900s. These buildings were demonstrative of Winnipeg's prominence as an industrial and commercial centre of North America, earning the title of the "Chicago of the North". One of the best examples is the Commerce Bank Building with its expansive glass dome, which soars three floors above the marble floors and the black granite tellers' counter. This restored building, now serves Winnipeg as the Millennium Centre, as a conference, meeting and special event location. Possible future use includes housing part or all of the Canadian Costume Museum. He helped shape both city by-laws and provincial legislation that afforded protection to the historical structures of significant architectural importance. During his tenure as the Manitoba Governor for the Canadian Heritage Federation he secured the National Historic Site designation for the Exchange District. The Exchange District originally was home to Winnipeg's prosperous textile and apparel manufacturing sector. The many restored buildings in the district now house a wide variety of shops, restaurants, studio spaces for the arts community. Many are being turned into loft and warehouse style apartment/condos in support of the resurgence in the interest of people wanting to live downtown, close to their work, or close to the expanding Red River College downtown campus. This dense collection of turn of the 20th century construction, which its unique architecture has also spurred a lucrative film production industry. Film companies from all across Canada and Hollywood have used the Exchange District as a backdrop for numerous movies. Often Winnipeg stands in for United States cities, which sadly have modernized their downtowns with steel and glass structures making them all but impossible to use as suitable outdoor locations for stories set in the first half of the 20th century. Such notable stars as Richard Gere, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Molly Ringwold have all been in Winnipeg to film in the Exchange District. Bernie Wolfe's knowledge and abilities have transcended normal political affiliations as his advice and expertise has been sought by current politicians from all political stripes. His community and political service spanned a time that saw major changes and development for the City of Winnipeg, which will be his legacy that few will be able to replicate.