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MAUREEN LUCILLE HEMPHILL
Born: Jan 26, 1937
Date of Passing: Feb 22, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMAUREEN LUCILLE HEMPHILL
The Honorable Maureen Hemphill, former Manitoba cabinet minister, passed peacefully surrounded by love at her home in Winnipeg in the care of her husband Myron Wiebe and daughter Sue. Maureen will be missed by many, most of all her husband Myron, her four children Carol, Jim, Ross and Susan, six grandchildren Candice, Zac, Scott, Caitlin, Tabitha and Luke, along with their partners and seven great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by her sister Sandy, and her many close friends including Ruth, Bob and Kathy.
Maureen Lucille Hemphill was born on January 26, 1937, in Grand Forks BC to Jim and Elaine Miller. Maureen grew up in Bralorne BC, a gold mining town in the Bridge River Valley north of Lillooet. Her love of nature came as a result of time spent playing in the surrounding mountains and valleys. Her fondest memories include skiing the mountain trails, summers at Big Gunn Lake, picking wildflowers, berries and holly to sell for pocket money before Christmas. After high school she moved to “the big city” Vancouver to become a registered nurse.
During her nurses training she met teacher and principal David Hemphill, they married and had four children while living in North Vancouver. A decade later the family moved to Edmonton where David pursued his PhD and Maureen supported the family through her nursing. From Edmonton, Maureen and her family moved to Winnipeg and settled in Charleswood.
In Charleswood, Maureen was welcomed and mentored by three activist-moms from long-time Charleswood families; the Van Roons, Wicklunds, and Vosters. That was the beginning of her grassroots community activism journey. Together, this group of moms concerned about education and safety decided one of them should run for the local school board. Maureen was subsequently nominated and elected to the Assiniboine South School Board, beginning her public service career.
While serving as a School Board Trustee she was elected President of Manitoba Association of School Trustees (MAST) becoming the first female president. Dedicated to community service, she served on numerous boards including the United Way of Winnipeg, the Children’s Aid Society, the Social Planning Council, The Manitoba Opera and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
During those years Maureen successfully balanced work and home, always warm and welcoming to her children’s friends and keeping her mother’s gift for baking alive and well. Several cherished summers were spent at the family cottage at Star Lake.
Her community-oriented leadership and shared values came to the attention of NDP Leader Ed Schreyer and he asked her to run for the provincial NDP. 1977 was Maureen’s first provincial campaign, as the Charleswood NDP candidate against Sterling Lyon, the then PC party Leader.
Drawn to work on grassroots issues in the core area, she moved into Point Douglas in the Logan constituency. She became the NDP candidate in the 1981 provincial election, was elected MLA for Logan and then was appointed as the first women Minister of Education by Premier Howard Pawley.
Maureen served as Minister of Education, Minister of Housing, Minister of Small Business Development and Tourism, and Minister of Community Services. Maureen is best remembered for visionary leadership in Education, the portfolio she held the longest. During her time as a Minister Maureen introduced numerous progressive changes, most notably protection for small schools, community access to the new downtown University campus, numerous innovative programs (early years / headstart, cultural, first language and EAL programs). She was also a driving force behind Koats for Kids.
In government, Maureen was a staunch advocate for ethnocultural communities, seniors, Indigenous communities, Indigenous rights and women’s rights. She ensured that many cultural organizations received funding to develop their cultural centers and community-based programs, a significant part of her lasting legacy.
Maureen was also a strong advocate for preventative health and was instrumental in having chiropractic services partially covered under Manitoba Health. Her interest in wholistic and alternative health practices continued throughout her life.
Maureen was an inspirational and transformative public speaker. She did not use speech writers, often jotting notes on napkins and speaking passionately with deep knowledge for her subject matter. She spoke from the heart which moved and inspired others.
In 1988, Maureen ran for the leadership of the Provincial NDP. In an atmosphere of mutual respect and collegiality, Gary Doer won the leadership. Maureen continued as MLA for Logan until 1990.
After leaving political life, Maureen continued groundbreaking work, including an impact review of the Multiculturalism Act from the perspective of newcomer community leaders; the first ever consultations with Immigrant Professionals identifying “barriers to recognition”; development of a Canadian Citizenship Curriculum; the development of a nutraceutical osteoporosis-prevention beverage.
After several years of consulting Maureen transitioned to a more private life, returning to her first love, nature. She moved to an acreage on Hazel Creek where family gathered for numerous waffle and potato pancake brunches. Surrounded by nature, Maureen focused more on her spiritual life and family.
When she returned to the city she joined with a small group of like-minded friends to create a non-denominational meditation and healing centre called The Sanctuary. The friendships formed through the Sanctuary were very special and lasted for the remainder of her life.
In 2007, during this time at the The Sanctuary, Maureen met her soulmate, Myron Wiebe. They later married and enjoyed almost 20 years of partnership together. The depth of their spiritual connection was easy to recognize, and their love inspired all that knew them. They enjoyed time with family and friends, going to their favourite restaurants for eggs benny, taking in live concerts, spending time in nature, meditating together and holding hands through it all.
Highlights in the past decade for Maureen were backyard garden visits, family weddings and meeting great grandchildren. Maureen was a wonderful mother and grandmother.
Maureen had some significant health challenges in the last years of her life. Throughout her challenges she continued to inspire those close to her by retaining her optimistic attitude, her love of fun, her incredible sense of humour, her concern for those in need, her love for her family and close friends, her spiritual practices and holistic lifestyle.
The family is grateful for the beneficial treatments Maureen received over the years from a number of local holistic practitioners and caring doctors and nurses. We are also grateful for the guidance and support from Palliative Care nurses while hospice care was provided at home.
Maureen had a huge and lasting impact on Manitobans. She was a pioneer and trailblazer. Maureen was loved and highly respected by her colleagues, friends and the broader community. She will be profoundly missed.
An online Tribute is available for people to share memories. Plans for a celebration of life will be posted at a later date. In lieu of flowers please donate to a nature or humanitarian organization or give when you see someone in need, as she always did.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 07, 2026