Home > Pearl McGonigal

McGonigal was born in Melville, Saskatchewan. Before entering politics, she spent nine years in the banking sector and seven as a merchandising representative.

McGonigal was elected to the city council of St. James-Assiniboia in 1969, two years before its amalgamation with Winnipeg. Following amalgamation, she served on the Greater City Council from 1971 to 1981, and was the city's Deputy Mayor from 1979 to 1981. Throughout her time on council, she was a member of the Independent Citizen's Election Committee , an unofficial alliance of right-wing and pro-development interest groups in the city (McGonigal's husband was a prominent Winnipeg-area developer).

McGonigal was appointed Lt. Governor of Manitoba by Pierre Trudeau in 1981. The office was essentially a ceremonial post by this time, and McGonigal had little if any practical influence over the government of Howard PawleyHoward Russell Pawley (born November 21, 1934) is a Canadian politician and professor who was Premier of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988. Pawley was born in Brampton, Ontario, and was educated at Manitoba Teachers College United College, the University of Winn during her time in office. She was notable, however, as the first women in Manitoba (and only the second in CanadaCanada historically the Dominion of Canada is the second-largest, and northernmost, country in the world. It is a decentralized federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories, governed as a constitutional monarchy, and formed in 1867 through an act of Confe) to hold such a position.

McGonigal has also worked as the Manitoba chair of the Council for Canadian Unity . She was appointed to the Order of CanadaThe Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian honour, awarded to those who adhere to the Order's motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam meaning "they desire a better country. The Order was created on July 1, 1967, on the country's 100th anniversary, to re in 19941994 is a common year starting on Saturday, and was designated the International year of the Family''. Events January events January 1 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an and the Order of Manitoba in 2000. In 2003, she received the President's Award from the Winnipeg Press Club . She is a gourmet cook of some reputation, and has written regular columns on the subject in Winnipeg's daily and community newspapers.

Also during the early 2000s, McGonigal served as Chairman of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council in Manitoba, which regularly lobbies public bodies and private businesses to grant time off to military reservists for training purposes.