LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S TROPHY

The Honorable Errick F. Willis donated the Lieutenant Governor's Trophy to the Winnipeg Music Festival in 1963. At times referred to in the past as the Errick F. Willis trophy, the Lieutenant Governor's trophy is awarded annually for the most outstanding solo or group performance during the Festival.

Errick French Willis was born in Boissevain, Manitoba in 1896. He was educated at the Universities of Toronto, Manitoba and Alberta. He sat for twenty-four years in the Manitoba Legislature as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and as a cabinet minister in both the coalition governments of John Bracken and Premier Duff Roblin's administration. In 1948 he became Deputy Provincial Premier and remained in that office until 1950. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor on January 15, 1959. Both Mr. Willis and his wife, Louise, will long be remembered for their interest in and ardent support of youth and cultural activities. They were frequent visitors to the Winnipeg Music Festival, both in an official and unofficial capacity.