Robert Steen

Robert Ashley Steen, (August 12, 1933 – May 10, 1979) was a Canadian politician from the province of Manitoba. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1966 to 1969, and later served as the 38th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1977 to 1979.

Born in Winnipeg in 1933, for his exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession.

His brother Warren also served on Winnipeg city council and in the provincial assembly.

Steen was an adviser to the federal Minister of Veterans Affairs in 1961,

Steen, who had entered the race as a long-shot candidate, suddenly found himself supported by Juba's north-end support base. Although not a left-wing candidate, he was seen by many on the left as more palatable than Bill Norrie, the candidate of the ICEC. The results were extremely close, with Steen defeating Norrie by 69,818 votes to 67,999. Bill Norrie easily won the by-election that followed.

He served as chairman of the board for the Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg, the hospital where he was born and later died.

In 1980, the National Film Board of Canada issued a documentary film entitled "The New Mayor", covering Steen's rise to power.

The Robert A. Steen Day Hospital [a part of Riverview Health Centre] and the Robert A. Steen Community Centre are named in his honour. Additionally, the annual winner of the Manitoba Marathon is awarded the Mayor Robert Steen Memorial Trophy. Finally, The Mayor Robert Steen Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top pins over average bowler at the Manitoba Master Bantam Junior 5 Pin Bowling Tournament.