View source for Leonard Barkman

{{short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Leonard Barkman
| image         = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = Leonard A. Barkman
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1920|07|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Steinbach, Manitoba]], [[Canada]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1979|01|05|1920|07|12|mf=y}}
| death_place   = Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = politician
| years_active  = 1962–1973
| known_for     = member, [[Manitoba legislature]]
| party         = [[Manitoba Liberal Party|Liberal Party]]
| father        = Jacob F. Barkman
| mother        = Margaret Dueck
| spouse        = {{marriage|Agnes Reimer |1945}}
| notable_works = 
}}
'''Leonard A. Barkman''' (July 12, 1920 – January 5, 1979) was a [[politician]] in Manitoba, [[Canada]]. He was a member of the [[Manitoba legislature]] from 1962 to 1973,<ref name="historical"/> sitting as a member of the [[Manitoba Liberal Party|Liberal Party]]. He was the first [[Mennonite]] elected to the Manitoba assembly from an area formerly known as the [[East Reserve]], which had at one time been set aside by the federal government for settlement by Mennonite immigrants.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UyiwptwstCsC&pg=PA227 |page=227 |title=Mennonites, Politics, and Peoplehood: Europe - Russia - Canada 1525-1980 |year=2006 |isbn=0887553443 |last=Urry |publisher=University of Manitoba Press |first=James |accessdate=2012-03-01}}</ref>

==Biography==
Leonard A. Barkman was born July 12, 1920, in [[Steinbach, Manitoba|Steinbach]], [[Manitoba]], the son of Jacob F. Barkman and Margaret Dueck, both natives of Manitoba. Barkman was educated in Steinbach-area schools, operated a small business in the city and married Agnes Reimer in 1945 ([http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-69313/name-Agnes_Barkman/ she died May 2, 2002]).<ref>{{Cite news
  | title = Deaths
  | newspaper = Manitoba Herald
  | date = July 12, 2002
  | url = http://old.mbherald.com/41-13/deaths.html
  | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301110907/http://old.mbherald.com/41-13/deaths.html
  | archivedate=2012-03-01
  | url-status=dead
  | accessdate = 2009-11-30}}</ref> He also served as [[mayor]] of Steinbach for a number of years.<ref name="historical">From his obituary, ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'', 8 January 1979, page 109. Available online: {{Cite web
  | last = 
  | first = 
  | author-link = 
  | title = Leonard A. Barkman (1920-1979)
  | publisher = The Manitoba Historical Society
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/barkman_la.shtml
  | doi = 
  | accessdate = 2009-11-30}}</ref>

He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the [[1962 Manitoba general election|election of 1962]], defeating [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservative]] Peter Thiessen by over 800 votes in the [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Carillon (Manitoba riding)|Carillon]]. He was re-elected by an expanded margin in the [[1966 Manitoba general election|1966 election]]. In the [[1969 Manitoba general election|1969 election]], he was re-elected in the redistributed riding of [[La Verendrye (electoral district)|La Verendrye]].

Support for the Manitoba Liberal Party declined in the 1970s, and Barkman was defeated by Progressive Conservative [[Robert Banman]] by 525 votes in the [[1973 Manitoba general election|provincial election of 1973]].<ref>{{Cite web
  | last = 
  | first = 
  | author-link = 
  | title = Manitoba Votes 2007
  | publisher = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.cbc.ca/manitobavotes2007/riding/021
  | format = 
  | doi = 
  | accessdate = 2009-11-30}}</ref> He did not seek a return to the legislature after this time.

He died in Steinbach at the age of 58.<ref name="historical"/>

==Legacy==
A public park located in the western portion of the city of [[Steinbach, Manitoba|Steinbach]] is named after L.A. Barkman. A plaque in honour of Barkman—near the southeast corner of the park—reads, "L.A. Barkman (1920-1979); Councillor 1952-1958; Mayor 1958-1970; MLA 1962-1973. A life dedicated to public service." ''L.A. Barkman Park'' contains a famous landmark known as "Abe's Hill," which serves as an ideal toboggan hill in the winter months.<ref>[http://www.steinbach.ca/steinbach_life/having_fun/_sports_activities_/ City of Steinbach - Sports Activities.] Retrieved 2 Dec 2010.</ref>

This park recently became the subject of a controversy, regarding its use as a purely recreational park. In 1973, when the land was sold to the then "town" of Steinbach, the mayor at the time, [[A.D. Penner]], had agreed verbally that the entire resulting park would remain strictly recreational. In Dec. 2008, however, the city council decided to proceed with the residential development of a two-acre strip of land along the northern boundary of ''L.A. Barkman Park'', fronting the extension of Woodhaven Ave., against the wishes of the original owner of the property, Justice Gordon J. Barkman, who had formerly served as a justice on Manitoba's [[Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba|Court of Queen's Bench]] (1972–2001).<ref>[http://www.steinbach.ca/resource/File/Council_Minutes/2008/Council_Meeting_-_Dec_16_08.pdf Steinbach Council Meeting, Dec. 16, 2008, pg. 4.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706203729/http://www.steinbach.ca/resource/File/Council_Minutes/2008/Council_Meeting_-_Dec_16_08.pdf |date=2011-07-06 }} Retrieved 30 Nov 2010.</ref> Ultimately, due to a lack of response to the Request for Proposals, Council voted not to proceed with this development.<ref>[http://www.steinbach.ca/resource/File/Council_Minutes/2009/20090721.pdf Steinbach Council Meeting, July 21st, 2009, pg. 3.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706203819/http://www.steinbach.ca/resource/File/Council_Minutes/2009/20090721.pdf |date=2011-07-06 }} Retrieved 2 Dec 2010.</ref> Rezoning of land just outside the park, at the west end of Woodhaven Ave., was approved by the Manitoba Municipal Board, which allowed for the future development of a 5-storey,  128 unit apartment/condominium complex.<ref>[http://www.steinbachonline.com/local-news/municipal-board-approves-apartment-zoning Municipal Board Approves Apartment Zoning]. ''Steinbach Online'', 21 November 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2012.</ref>

==Electoral results==
{{1969 Manitoba general election/La Verendrye}}
{{1966 Manitoba general election/Carillon}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barkman, Leonard}}
[[Category:Manitoba Liberal Party MLAs]]
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Steinbach, Manitoba]]
[[Category:Canadian Mennonites]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]]