Profile Text
Birth Name: Wabanakwut Kinew
Place of Birth: Kenora, Ontario, Canada
Date of Birth: December 31, 1981
Ethnicity: * father – Onigaming First Nations * mother – English, some Scottish
Wab Kinew is a Canadian politician, musician, broadcaster, and university administrator. He has been Premier of Manitoba, since October 18, 2023, and Leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party (NDP), since September 16, 2017. He has also been Leader of the Opposition in Manitoba, from September 16, 2017 to October 18, 2023. He was a host of programming on CBC Radio and CBC Television.
He is the son of Dr. Kathi Avery Kinew, a policy analyst, and Tobasonakwut Kaagagewanakweb Kinew, who was a local and regional chief, and professor of Indigenous governance at the University of Winnipeg. Wab’s father was First Nations. His mother is white. He is a member of the Anishinaabe, the Onigaming First Nation in Northwestern Ontario. He was raised mostly in suburban Winnipeg. Wab attended a French immersion school. He vacationed in Onigaming in the summer. Wab speaks Ojibwe, English, and French.
Wab is married to Dr. Lisa Monkman, a physician, also of First Nations background, who practices in an inner city clinic. He has three children, including a son with Lisa.
Wab’s paternal grandfather was named Waabanakwad Kelly. Waabanakwad was born in Ontario.
Wab’s paternal grandmother was named Nenagiizhigok Ojibwe. Nenagiizhigok was born in Ontario.
Wab’s maternal grandfather was Raymond Joseph “Ray” Avery (the son of William Joseph Avery and Helena Elizabeth “Lena” Dobson). Raymond was born in Toronto, York, Ontario. William was born in Watford, Lambton County, Ontario, the son of Joseph George Avery and Jessie/Jesse Stewart. Helena was born in Orono, Durham, Ontario, the daughter of Samuel Blackburn Dobson, whose parents were born in Yorkshire, England; and of Sarah Jane “Jennie” Young.
Wab’s maternal grandmother was Madeline/Madaline/Madeleine Isobell/Isobel/Isabel Wase Gay (the daughter of George William Gay and Jessie Victoria Wase). Madeline was born in York, Toronto, Ontario. George was the son of Alfred Gay and Anna Elizabeth West. Jessie was born in England, the daughter of Benjamin Wase and Sara Shaw.
Sources: https://www.cbc.ca https://www.nytimes.com
Genealogy of Wab Kinew – https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogies of Wab’s maternal grandparents, Raymond Joseph “Ray” Avery and Madeline/Madaline/Madeleine Isobell/Isobel/Isabel Wase Gay – https://www.findagrave.com
Wab’s maternal great-grandfather, William Joseph Avery, on the 1901 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Wab’s maternal grandmother, Madeline/Madaline/Madeleine Isobell/Isobel/Isabel Wase Gay – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage records of Wab’s maternal great-grandparents, George William Gay and Jessie Victoria Wase – https://www.familysearch.org https://www.familysearch.org
Wab’s maternal great-grandmother, Jessie Victoria Wase Gay, on the 1901 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org