After only 2 decades the Selkirk General Hospital was already at capacity. In 1929 the hospital underwent an expansion which nearly doubled its capacity of 30 beds to 55. The expansion also included a spacious operating room, a large maternity ward, increased nursing accommodations, and an automatic elevator.
William Daniel Griffiths (1898–1962) was a Welsh-born First World War veteran who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in France. Settling in Selkirk after the war, he worked as an accountant for the Manitoba Rolling Mills (MRM) and actively contributed to his community as a member of the Lisgar Masonic Lodge and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 42.
Raymond Edward Fiddler (1924–1981) was a Manitoba-born Second World War veteran who enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following his military service, he worked as a tugboat captain for the Suzanne E on the Hayes River and later with Marine Transport.
Paul Henrikson (1924–1992) was a Second World War Royal Canadian Navy veteran who served on the HMCS Uganda. After the war, he dedicated his life to education as a beloved teacher at Selkirk Collegiate and the Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School, while also serving his community as a town councillor, Deputy Mayor, and active member of numerous local clubs.
Remember the dedication of Otto Scramstad, a proud World War II veteran who answered the call to serve in the Canadian Army. Alongside his brothers Bob and Harry, he stood as a vital member of Selkirk’s historic Dufferin Gang, leaving behind an enduring legacy of family sacrifice and community service.
Learn about the wartime sacrifice of Lawson Dillabough, a brave young man from Selkirk who answered the call to serve during the Second World War. As a dedicated member of the historic Dufferin Gang, his commitment alongside his neighbors and peers stands as an enduring testament to his community’s profound legacy of military service.
Learn about the wartime and family life of John V. Sinclair, a World War II veteran who courageously enlisted at just 17 years old. After surviving battlefield injuries in France—thanks to a dramatic rescue by his neighbor “Chappy” Adams—he returned home to Selkirk, dedicated 25 years of hard work to the Manitoba Rolling Mills, and proudly raised a remarkably vibrant family of 11 children.
Follow the life of Jack C. Laye, a Second World War veteran who served in the Canadian Army alongside his brother James as part of Selkirk’s historic Dufferin Gang. After returning home, he earned his Red Seal in carpentry, dedicating his post-war career to North American Lumber, Government Services, and the Selkirk Mental Health Centre.
Follow the extraordinary life of Harold Little, a D-Day veteran who courageously navigated a swimming tank onto Juno Beach. Despite losing an eye to a landmine during the landing, he heroically carried a wounded comrade to safety, later returning to Europe to complete his service with the historic Dufferin Gang. After the war, he built a legendary local career as a commercial and government recovery diver, a legacy celebrated today at the Marine Museum of Manitoba.
Follow the selfless life of Harold Henrikson, who stepped away from school in the 1930s to support his family at the Selkirk Foundry. After marrying in Ontario and enlisting with the Lord Strathcona’s Armoured Horse Tank Corps, this proud member of the Dufferin Gang fought in the Liberation of the Netherlands and Belgium before returning home to raise his family, work at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, and serve as a dedicated Mason and Legion member.