Art Coulter Labour Community Service Award
Honouring a Winnipeg union member for exceptional commitment to community
The Art Coulter Labour Community Services Award is awarded annually by United Way Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Labour Council. It’s named in honour of James Arthur ‘Art’ Coulter, a trade unionist dedicated to improving the quality of life in our city.
The award is presented to a Winnipeg trade unionist who has made an outstanding contribution to the Winnipeg community. The recipient has made a difference through volunteerism, educating, activism and support for United Way Winnipeg and our agency partners.
The recipient of the Art Coulter Labour Community Service award receives an inscribed plaque, which is hung in the offices of the Winnipeg Labour Council and United Way Winnipeg with room to add the name of the recipients from each year.
Who was Art Coulter?
James Arthur Coulter was born in Winnipeg on October 20, 1916. He grew up in Weston, a working-class neighbourhood in the city’s north end adjacent to the CP Rail yards.
He worked for Western Canada Malting, a supplier of malted barley for the thriving brewery industry in Winnipeg and, through the union there, became involved in various committees.
His passion for helping people led him to Community Chest, a fundraising organization that collected money from local organizations and individuals and allocated it to a handful of charities.
As Executive Secretary of the Winnipeg and District Labour Council, and as a result of his work with Community Chest, Art became well aware of the needs that existed in the city, but with a number of similar fundraising appeals taking part throughout the city, he was convinced there was a more effective and united approach.
His efforts led to the Winnipeg and District Labour Council’s initiative to involve the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce in a partnership to study the implementation of a united appeal.
At a public meeting in June 1964, the citizens of Winnipeg endorsed a recommended action that a United Way be established. And on May 15, 1965, Bill #87, the act to incorporate the United Way of Greater Winnipeg was enacted, as a direct result of Art’s belief in unity.