Salome Halldorson

Elin Salome Halldorson (December 29, 1887 She was the second woman and the first woman of Icelandic origin to serve in the provincial legislature.

Early life

Halldorson was born to Halldor Halldorson and Kristin Palsdottir a private school started by the Icelandic Lutheran Church in 1913.

Career

She was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1936 provincial election, defeating Liberal-Progressive incumbent Skuli Sigfusson and Social Credit Premier of Alberta William Aberhart also supported her.

The 1941 election greatly reduced Social Credit as a political force in the province. All of the anti-coalition candidates were defeated, and Halldorson finished a distant second against Sigfusson in St George. She was re-nominated in the 1945 provincial election, but declined to stand.

Her brother Christian also served in the Manitoba assembly after her stint there.

Later life

Halldorson later taught at Morden, Transcona and at Balmoral Hall. In 1953, she wrote against proposed anti-discrimination legislation as unduly restricting the freedom of employers.