Manitoba author who wrote about drinking exploits fined after attempted MPI fraud

Maybe this story will be included in the second edition.

A retired Manitoba publisher who penned a memoir recounting his life of drinking has been fined $6,500 after admitting to filing a false claim with Manitoba Public Insurance following an alcohol-related crack-up in his Ford Mustang.

Gregg Shilliday, 72, founder of Great Plains Press and author of the 2024 book The Lush Life: A Not So Sober Second Look, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of fraud over $5,000. A second charge of impaired driving was stayed by the Crown.

Court heard Shilliday was driving on a gravel road approximately 10 kilometres north of Gimli, May 19, 2024, when he lost control of his vehicle, and went into a ditch, striking several trees along the way.

“A number of bystanders were present (who) made efforts to assist getting him out of the vehicle” Crown attorney Samir Hassan told provincial court Judge Julie Frederickson.

Hassan said the witnesses noted Shilliday appeared unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes and a “strong odour of alcohol emanating from his person.”

Days later, Shilliday filed an accident claim with Manitoba Public Insurance claiming he landed in the ditch after swerving to miss hitting a deer.

Shilliday’s story was “totally fabricated, there was no deer,” Hassan said. “He had been consuming some intoxicants and that’s what led him ultimately into the ditch.”

His story began to unravel a couple of months later after witnesses learned what he had told MPI and came forward to police with what they saw.

Shilliday has no criminal record and a “long history of being a law-abiding citizen,” Hassan said.

“But there are two sides to the coin here,” he said. “When you are dealing with somebody with this degree of life experience, they should know better. We are not dealing with a youthful offender who may not necessarily be able to comprehend the consequences of his actions.

“Any time somebody makes attempts to defraud MPI, it affects all Manitobans,” Hassan said. “The ripples are felt through the insurance rates that all of us are required to pay.”

Court heard no reference to Shilliday’s drinking memoir, released at a McNally Robinson book launch six months after the crash. Defence lawyer Seth Lozinski said Shilliday’s actions were “out of character” and argued he has already suffered a high financial penalty, paying more than $40,000 to repair his vehicle after his collision claim was rejected.

“I’m just very sorry this happened and I can be pretty certain it won’t happen again,” Shilliday told court.

Hassan and Lozinski jointly recommended Shilliday be fined $5,000. Frederickson rejected a defence request Shilliday not be required to pay an additional $1,500 penalty in court costs.

Frederickson said it was “concerning” Shilliday attempted to defraud MPI knowing there were witnesses who saw clear signs he was impaired at the time of the crash.

“You knew there were bystanders around who saw what was happening, who came to your assistance, who could smell alcohol on you,” Frederickson said. “So clearly there was indications of consumption, even if you somehow believed you weren’t impaired.”

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca