Bernie Wolfe

Bernie Wolfe is a retired politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served for several years as a municipal councillor in Winnipeg, and remains a proponent of preserving Winnipeg's architectural heritage. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 2001 for his community work. In 1969, he ran for the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Wolfe's political career began with the Manitoba provincial election of 1958, in which Dufferin Roblin's Tories came to power with a minority government. Wolfe was a Liberal-Progressive candidate in the Winnipeg-area riding of Radisson. He was defeated by Russell Paulley, who became leader of the provincial Cooperative Commonwealth Federation one year later.

In the 1960s, the Roblin government created the "Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg", consisting of ten city councillors and a chairman appointed by the provincial government. Wolfe became a prominent member of this board (which was commonly known as "the Metro"), and was a frequent opponent of Mayor Steve Juba.

In 1968, Wolfe ran as a Liberal candidate in the federal riding of Selkirk, but lost to New Democrat Edward Schreyer by over five thousand votes.

He ran for the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party in 1969, but finished well behind the winner, Robert Bend.

Wolfe supported the amalgamation of Winnipeg, as legislated by Schreyer's New Democratic government in the early 1970s. In 1971, he was a founding member of the Independent Citizens' Election Committee, a group which promoted business and pro-development interests and opposed NDP candidates at the municipal level. By 1974, he was the unofficial leader of the ICEC and had become Winnipeg's Deputy Mayor.

Wolfe did not run for re-election to council in 1977, the same year that Steve Juba retired as mayor. Many believe that Juba's surprise retirement (which was announced only hours before the nomination period ended) was timed to prevent Wolfe from succeeding him. Wolfe continued to lead the ICEC after leaving politics. He was later was appointed to the Canadian Transport Commission, where he served until his retirement. He still lives in Winnipeg where he remains active in community affairs.

In 1978, Wolfe was one of the founding members of Heritage Winnipeg. This organization gave him an honorary award in 2003.

There is currently a Bernie Wolfe Community School in Winnipeg.