Jack McKeag

Trib story on dedication of new cabins and boathouse. 

The day before this story ran in the Trib a lot of people gathered at camp to mark the construction of 12 new cabins and dedicate the chapel to long-time camp cook Alfred David.

Also christened Aug. 7, 1966 was the new boathouse, which we all know by now has been knocked down and a new depot building rising in its place.

"A new boathouse was opened by Jack McKeag. The boathouse holds 28 canoes as well as sail and motor boats," the story says.

That's it.

We all know the boathouse was more than a storage building. For me, it was the shop andwhere I learned the business end of a hammer and to always wear eye protection when using a circular saw.

For others it was the depot or trail building, where you planned and packed out your canoe trips, whether it was a junior cabin overnighter or a six-weeker.

What caught my eye in the Trib story was the name Jack McKeag.

I'd heard the McKeag name before as it was the name of the last cabin on the line; McKeags.

Jack McKeag was Manitoba's 17th lieutenant governor, appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in July 1970. At 42, McKeag was also the youngest Manitoban to be appointed LG. He served six years.

(Winnipeg Tribune)

More about McKeag is here on the Manitoba Historical Society web page.

Four years earlier, when he opened the boathouse, McKeag was president of McKeag-Harris Realty and Development Co. Ltd., a major property developer on the Winnipeg business scene.

He was also:

• A graduate of Kelvin High School and the U of M in 1949 where we received a commerce degree
• Married to Dawn Campbell in 1950 - Campbell was the daughter of Douglas Campbell, Manitoba's 13th premier
• Father of four children; three daughters and one son
• An unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the 1958 provincial election
• Chairman of the Greater Winnipeg Election Committee
• President of the Winnipeg Kiwanis Club
• Board member of the United College board of regents.

Certainly, McKeag was a busy man and extremely active in his community. He died in 2007.

What I don't know is his and his family's connection to Camp Stephens.

Anyone know?

McKeag with Rex in mid-70s. McKeag was also Honorary Colonel of the Fort Garry Horse. (Winnipeg Tribune)