Eric Jonasson Award of Merit
Established in 1987 as a principal award of merit it was changed in name in 1999 to honour Eric Jonasson for his contributions to MGS. As a founding member of the Society in 1976 he was member No. 1. He served as the first President until 1980.
He wrote his first genealogical guide “Tracing Your Icelandic Family Tree” in the 70’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 Recipients
2022 George MacKay
2021 Bill Curtis
2020 Patricia Sundmark
2019 Marilyn Strang (Dauphin Branch)
2018 Enid Dorward
2017 Virginia Braid
2016 Shirle McGimpsey (Dauphin Branch)
2015 Orma Sozansky
2014 Pat Allan
2013 Rick McLellan
2012 Jayne Paradis
2011 Eleanor Burch (SW Branch)
2010 No award given.
2009 Gordon McBean
2008 Bill Burland
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

2011 Eric Jonasson Award presented to Eleanor Burch by Kathy Stokes.

2008 Eric Jonasson Award presented to Bill Burland (1940-2009) by Joan Whiston (1937-2016).