Reginald Wightman
Encyclopedia
Reginald Frederick Wightman (May 28, 1899-January 23, 1981) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
as a Liberal-Progressive
from 1949 to 1958.
Wightman born Nesbitt, Manitoba
. He was educated at Manitoba University, which later became the University of Manitoba
. He worked as a pharmacist, and was the owner and operator of several pharmacies in the Winnipeg area. He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as chair of the St. James School Board for four years, and as a councillor for six years. Wightman became Mayor
of St. James in 1945, and continued to serve as the mayor of the suburb even after his election to the provincial legislature.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1949 provincial election
, defeating incumbent Cooperative Commonwealth Federation MLA Ernest R. Draffin by 1,214 votes in the constituency of Assiniboia. He was re-elected in the 1953 election
, defeating CCF challenger Alvin Mackling by 281 votes. Wightman was a backbench supporter of Douglas Campbell
's government during his time in the legislature.
The Liberal-Progressives lost power following the 1958 provincial election
, following a large-scale electoral redistribution. Wightman was defeated in the redistributed constituency of St. James, losing to Progressive Conservative
Douglas Stanes
by 476 votes.
Wightman returned to municipal politics after his provincial defeat. In 1969, he became the first finance committee chair of the new city of St. James–Assiniboia.
His son, Reginald C. Wightman, is also a public figure in Winnipeg.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
as a Liberal-Progressive
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
from 1949 to 1958.
Wightman born Nesbitt, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He was educated at Manitoba University, which later became the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He worked as a pharmacist, and was the owner and operator of several pharmacies in the Winnipeg area. He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as chair of the St. James School Board for four years, and as a councillor for six years. Wightman became Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of St. James in 1945, and continued to serve as the mayor of the suburb even after his election to the provincial legislature.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1949 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
, defeating incumbent Cooperative Commonwealth Federation MLA Ernest R. Draffin by 1,214 votes in the constituency of Assiniboia. He was re-elected in the 1953 election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
, defeating CCF challenger Alvin Mackling by 281 votes. Wightman was a backbench supporter of Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
's government during his time in the legislature.
The Liberal-Progressives lost power following the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
, following a large-scale electoral redistribution. Wightman was defeated in the redistributed constituency of St. James, losing to Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
Douglas Stanes
Douglas Stanes
Douglas Moncrieff Stanes was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1958 to 1969....
by 476 votes.
Wightman returned to municipal politics after his provincial defeat. In 1969, he became the first finance committee chair of the new city of St. James–Assiniboia.
His son, Reginald C. Wightman, is also a public figure in Winnipeg.