Former Winnipeg mayor Susan Thompson has been inspirational to Manitobans in her roles as community leader, entrepreneur, politician, diplomat and philanthropic fundraiser. She was the first and only woman mayor of Winnipeg, the first woman consul general at the Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis, and was the founding president and CEO of the University of Winnipeg Foundation. Elected mayor of Winnipeg for two terms in 1992 and 1995, she saw the city through the largest crisis Winnipeg had faced in 100 years – the flood of 1997. As mayor, she championed economic development, relationship building with the Aboriginal community and the continuing revitalization of Winnipeg’s downtown. She also helped bring major sporting events to Winnipeg including the World Junior Hockey Championship, the Grey Cup, the Pan Am Games and the World Indigenous Games.
