Gail Myra Morberg, 1940 – 2020
A noted philanthropist and champion of some of Manitoba’s most vulnerable populations, Gail Morberg was a key supporter of St. Boniface Street Links and the namesake of Morberg House.
Born on April 15, 1940 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Gail spent her childhood on the prairies. She met Arnold Morberg in Saskatoon in 1959. Gail and Arnold married in 1961 and shared 44 more years together until his death in 2005. Together, the couple founded Calm Air International in 1962 and grew it into one of Canada’s largest privately-owned regional airlines.
During her marriage, Gail raised their family while helping to grow the business, working as a substitute teacher in their community of Lynn Lake and running a figure skating program at the local rink. As Calm Air grew, the family relocated to Thompson, Manitoba and then to Paint Lake.
A self-described explorer, adventurer and entrepreneur, Gail lived life with enthusiasm. She and her husband, through Calm Air, contributed to many projects and causes in the communities they lived in. After Arnold’s death in 2005, Gail took over the reins of the company, eventually retiring when the airline was sold. Once retired, Gail decided to give back to the province where her family had made their wealth.
The founder of St. Boniface Street Links, Marion Willis, says the organization would be unimaginable without Gail Morberg’s support and generosity. When the organization needed a place to house the community’s homeless population, Gail Morberg purchased the property in St. Boniface that was to become Morberg House. Over the years, Gail also contributed to many organizations in Winnipeg and throughout the province. Her kindness, as well as her appreciation of ordinary people, is much missed by our organization. Each day we aspire to make her proud of what Morberg House has become.
Late Manitoba philanthropist Gail Morberg ‘expected very little in return’ for championing most vulnerable – CBC News, March 10, 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-philanthropist-gail-morberg-1.5492973
