Laurent Desjardins

Laurent Louis "Larry" Desjardins (March 15, 1923 – February 7, 2012 ) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as a member of the Manitoba legislature for most of the period from 1959 to 1988, and was a cabinet minister under New Democratic Premiers Edward Schreyer and Howard Pawley.

Early life The son of Joseph A. Desjardins and Valentine Desautels, Desjardins was educated at St. Boniface College, St. Paul's College and the Cincinnati College of Embalming. Desjardins played professional football with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was general manager of the St. Boniface Jr. Canadians and was a scout for the Montreal Canadiens. He was inducted into Manitoba’s sports hall of fame in 1990. He served in the Canadian navy during World War II. In 1944, he married Bernice McGuire. Desjardins became Schreyer's legislative assistant in 1969, and formally joined the New Democratic Party in 1971.

On December 1, 1971, Desjardins was appointed Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.

Desjardins's work for the interest of sport in Manitoba was recognized with his induction into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame as a Multi-sport Builder in 1990.

Retirement Desjardins resigned from his cabinet positions on February 10, 1988, after a Supreme Court ruling that provinces could not restrict a woman's right to abortion,

Desjardins died at the Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg following a fall; he was 88 years old.