Harry Shewman

Who was Harry Shewman?

Harold Proctor Shewman was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1949 until his death in 1968.

Shewman was educated at Wellington School in Winnipeg. He moved to Morris with his family in 1915. He was a partner in his father's construction business and later worked as an auctioneer and insurance agent. He was a school trustee from 1925 to 1938, and served as mayor of the Town of Morris from 1948 to 1954, coinciding with his early period in the legislature.

Shewman was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1949 provincial election. At that time, Manitoba was governed by a coalition of the province's Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives. Shewman ran as an independent candidate in Morris, and defeated coalitionist John C. Dryden by 153 votes. Shewman was initially identified as a coalition supporter, but had turned to the opposition side by 1950.

In 1950, Shewman called on Premier Douglas Campbell to declare a state of emergency over rising flood waters. Campbell delayed, which resulted in a number of municipalities being left ineligible for federal relief.