Shirley Render

Born Shirley Hurst in Winnipeg,^[2] the daughter of Harold and Marg Hurst,^[2] she was educated at the University of Manitoba, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 and a Master of Arts degree in 1984. She has worked as a social worker and High School teacher,^[2] and has lectured in Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She has also worked as a magazine editor.

She married Douglas E. Render.^[2]

Render is a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, and has authored two published books on aviation history: Double Cross: The Inside Story of James A. Richardson and Canadian Airways (1999)^[3] and No Place for a Lady: the Story of Canadian Women Pilots, 1928-1992 (2000).^[4] She is a member of the International Association of Women's Pilots and the Women and History Association, and has served as President of the Western Canada Aviation Museum (though her time as president coincided with a period of financial controversy at the museum).

Render was first elected to the Manitoba legislature as a Progressive Conservative in the 1990 provincial election in the south-central Winnipeg riding of St. Vital, defeating incumbent Liberal Bob Rose by 118 votes. She was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1995 provincial election, with the social-democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) displacing the Liberals for second place.^[5]

Render entered cabinet on February 5, 1999, the date of Premier Gary Filmon's final cabinet shuffle. She was appointed Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, with responsibility for the Gaming Control Act. In the provincial election held later in the year, she lost her seat to NDP candidate Nancy Allan by over 1,500 votes.^[5]

Render tried to return to the legislature in Riel, which borders her former district, in the 2003 provincial election, but lost to NDP candidate Christine Melnick by over 1,000 votes.^[6]