People

The history of Brandon is full of interesting people who have helped to shape the city as we know it today. Use the links below to explore the names from Brandon's past.

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Trotter, Alex

Alex Trotter was one of the owners of Trotter and Trotter, one of Brandon’s earliest businesses. The other owner was likely his brother. They were primarily horse dealers, and at one point claimed to have imported over one million dollars worth of horses into Manitoba. Alex Trotter served as an Alderman in Brandon in 1902. He died in 1931.

Turnbull McEwen, Jessie

Jessie Turnbull McEwen was a feminist who was active both locally and nationally. Turnbull was a suffragist and an advocate for women’s education; however she maintained a reputation as a persuader rather than an agitator.  Turnbull was a founding member of the Toronto Women’s Literary Club and served as the institution’s president in 1883 when it became the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association. In 1884, Turnbull and her husband, Donald McEwen, established a farm just outside of Brandon. She became a local activist, serving as president of the Brandon Local Council for Women from 1895 until 1916. During this time, the council established a public library, distributed books to new settlers, introduced domestic science and manual training courses in local schools, fought for the election of female school board trustees, and raised money for the hospital. In 1900, she became vice president of the National Council of Women. Turnbull was instrumental in organizing the first branch of the Manitoba Red Cross and was a founding member of the Brandon YWCA. Turnbull was also an active Presbyterian and a writer. She died in Brandon in 1920.

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