Thelma Forbes

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Thelma Bessie Forbes (born September 26, 1910 in Manitou, Manitoba) is a former politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1959 to 1969, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Dufferin Roblin and Walter Weir. Forbes was the third woman ever elected to serve in the Manitoba legislature, and the first to serve in cabinet.

Forbes was educated at Manitou Collegiate and the Manitou Normal School, and was a member of the Winnipeg Business and Professional Club.

She was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election held on November 26, 1959, defeating Liberal-Progressive candidate John Sundell by 724 votes in the riding of Cypress. She was re-elected by roughly the same majority in the 1962 provincial election, and by a slightly reduced figure in the 1966. She did not seek re-election in 1969, following the abolition of her riding.

Forbes was appointed Speaker of the Manitoba Legislature on February 28, 1963, and served in that position until December 5, 1966. Although considered a more successful Speaker than her predecessor, she is said not to have enjoyed the non-partisan position. She was later named Minister of Urban Development and Minister of Municipal Affairs on July 22, 1966, and held that position until September 24, 1968, when she was named Minister of Public Works. She served in the latter capacity until the 1969 election.