Charles Pingle

Charles Stueart Pingle (October 16, 1880 – January 10, 1928) was a druggist, politician and service man in Alberta, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1921 and from 1925 to 1928 as a member of the Liberal Party. He also served as Speaker of the Assembly from 1920 to 1921.

Pingle was born in Manitoba. After attending schools in Winnipeg, he apprenticed a druggist in Regina for two years before writing pharmaceutical exams and moving to Alberta to establish his own shop. One of the founding citizens of Medicine Hat, Alberta, he served in various boards and associations within the community. After serving as an alderman in Medicine Hat, in 1915, Pingle enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was stationed in France, where he served for about 5 months before returning to Canada.

After winning a seat as a Liberal in the 1913 Alberta general election and being returned to office again in 1917, Pingle was selected as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1920, in which he served until he was defeated in the 1921 Alberta general election by United Farmers candidate William Smith in a close race. He returned to the Assembly in a 1925 by-election in the riding of Medicine Hat, in which he served until his sudden death in 1928.

Early life, education and career Charles Steuart Pingle was born to Warren Hume and Georgina (née Steuart) Pingle near Morris, Manitoba on October 16, 1880. His father, born in what would later become Ontario, maintained a family milling business. Upon moving to Regina in 1883, Warren Pingle held many community positions, such as town assessor, jailer, and president of the school board, until his sudden death in 1889 at the age of 41. He moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta Pingle joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force to fight in World War I on May 25, 1915. He sailed to France in June 1915, serving there from September 1915 to February 1916, when he returned to Canada.

In 1920, following the death of incumbent Speaker Charles W. Fisher, Pingle was nominated by Premier Charles Stewart and Attorney-General John R. Boyle for Speaker of the Alberta Legislature. He took up the position on February 17 of the same year.

Pingle made a political come back by running as a candidate in the Medicine Hat electoral district in a by-election held on September 29, 1925, following the death of incumbent William Johnston.

In the 1926 general election Pingle (and Conservative candidate J.J.Hendricks) won Medicine Hat's two seats in a three-way race held under Single transferable voting rules.

The following year, he was appointed to the Legislature's Special Committee on the Rules, Orders and Forms of Proceedings.

Personal life

Charles Steuart Pingle married Jean McLeay, originally from Ontario, on September 16, 1903. Her parents were both of Scottish descent, with her mother being born in Scotland. Her father worked as a money broker and manufacturer in his hometown of Watford, Ontario. He had been in poor health in the years preceding his death. His funeral was attended by various members of provincial and municipal governments, political associations, and communities with which he was associated. St. Barbanas Church, in which it was held, was filled to its capacity, and many people had to stand outside. He was interred at the Hillside Cemetery in Medicine Hat. His wife, Jean, was buried beside him upon her death on September 6, 1944.

Senator William Buchanan characterized him as "a fair, dignified and capable presiding officer" and called him the "first citizen of Medicine Hat". Lieutenant Governor William Egbert stated that the death of Pingle would be "keenly felt by the Members of the House and by the people of the province". In an obituary, Pingle was described as "an outstanding figure in the Medicine Hat district, where for many years he occupied an important position in the business and social life of the community."