Michael Zawaly
1914 – 1995 – Inducted in 2022
Category of Sports/Recreation
Michael (Mike) Zawaly, registered as the 33rd birth in Transcona, was born in his family home in 1914 right here in Transcona. Even from a young age, he showed true promise in sports with a focus on baseball, specifically developing a skill for pitching.
Mike joined the Greater Winnipeg Senior Baseball league as the pitcher for the Transcona team. Known as the “The Big Brown Bomber” (Transcona News), Mike helped the team winning many games including the championships in 1938 and 1939. Mike went on to play with the Winnipeg Maroons in the Northern Baseball League. During the Great Depression and the Second World War, baseball was a great sense of entertainment and pride for the Transcona Community.
In the 1940’s Mike established an electrical contracting company that provided many Transcona homes with electricity for the first time. In the 1950’s, he became Transcona’s Electrical Inspector ensuring the continued growth of the business sector in Transcona. Mike also worked for the Canadian National Railway and was elected as the Chairmen of Local 142 of the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Transport and General Workers for many years.
Mike served as a member of the Transcona Residents Advisory Group that provided councillors with grassroots insight into issues that impacted the Transcona Community. In December 1975, Mike was presented with a City of Winnipeg’s Appreciation Award for services rendered and selfless dedication by voluntarily contributing to improving the community.