The Eric Jonasson Award of Merit is the major award given by MGS. It was created in 1999 to honour Eric Jonasson  for his contributions to MGS. He was member No. 1 and one of the founding members of the Society in 1976. He was the first President and served until 1980. Eric wrote his first genealogical guide “Tracing Your Icelandic Family Tree” in the 1970’s, followed by “The Canadian Genealogical Handbook” in 1976. In 1983, he published “Untangling Your Family Tree”. Eric was involved in many community and cultural organizations in Manitoba. His wife, Liz, served as Secretary of MGS for a number of years after his death in 1998.

Award Winners

2017 
Virginia Braid (SE/Winnipeg Branch)
2016
Shirle McGimpsey (Dauphin Branch)
2015
Orma Sozansky (SE/Winnipeg Branch)
2014
Pat Allan (SE/Winnipeg Branch)
2013
Rick McLellan (SE/Winnipeg Branch)
2012
Jayne Paradis
2011
Eleanor Burch (SW Branch)
2010
No award given.
2009
Gordon McBean
2008
Bill Borland
2007
Bob Stokes
2006
Mary Bole
2005
Eric Neufeld (Swan Valley Branch)
2004
Joan Whiston
2003
Daryl Dumanski
2002
Walt McCaw
2001
Margaret Goodman
2000
Betty Atkinson
1999
Jim Rutherford

Award of Merit

Prior to 1999 the Eric Jonasson Award was called the Award of Merit. It was given to members who demonstrated a high level of commitment towards the betterment of the Manitoba Genealogical Society. Like the Eric Jonasson Award of Merit after it, the Award of Merit was bestowed upon a member whose efforts stood out among a group of incredible volunteers.
1998
Connie McLeod
1997
Joyce Elias
1996
Donna Fox
1995
Eleanor Corbett
1994
Lorne Harris
1993
Ernest McCallum
1992
Jim Wall
1991
Hazel Runchey
1990
Gordon Breckman
1989
Elizabeth Briggs
1988
Edith Bjornson
1987
Ruth Breckman   Gerald Brown   Flo Cox   Reta McManus   Barbara Page
Louisa Shermerhorn   Mavis Smith   Kathy Stokes   Ruth Tester   Jean Tucker