Charles Pingle Charles Stueart " Charlie " Pingle ( October 16 , 1880 – January 10 , 1928 ) was a druggist , politician and service man in Alberta , Canada . 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 , a jailer , and president of the school board , until his sudden death in 1889 at the age of 41 . Charles Pingle attended a Winnipeg Public School and , following his completing of school , apprenticed with the Bole Drug Company in Regina . In 1899 , after apprenticing for two years , he wrote Pharmaceutical exams , and then entered the profession himself . He moved to Medicine Hat , Alberta in 1901 , and one year later , purchased a drug business from fellow druggist Donald A . Black , naming the store Pingle Drug and Book Company . He was a member of the first council of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association from 1911 – 1912 . He later served as president of the Association from 1918 to 1919 . He also served as director of various corporations , like the " Medicine Hat News " , and the Commonwealth Trust Company in Calgary . On top of these positions , he also maintained a farm in Medicine Hat . Military . Pingle served in the Canadian Militia as quartermaster of the 21st Alberta Hussars from 1909 to 1914 , with the rank of an honorary captain . Pingle joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force to go fight in World War I on May 25 , 1915 . During his time on duty , he sailed to France in June 1915 , serving there from September 1915 to February 1916 , when he returned to Canada . Political career . From 1910 to 1912 , Pingle sat as an alderman on the Medicine Hat City Council , involving himself in the Police Committee and Electric Committee . Pingle ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1913 Alberta general election as a candidate under the Liberal banner . He won a hotly contested two way race to pick up the new Redcliff electoral district for his party . Prior to the election , Pingle served as president and vice president in the Medicine Hat Liberal Association . From 1918 to 1919 , he chaired the Standing Committee on Miscellaneous and Private Bills in the Fourth Legislature . He was returned to office by acclamation under Section 38 of the " Election Act " in the 1917 Alberta general election for MLA ' s who participated in active service in the war . In 1920 , following the death of incumbent Speaker Charles W . Fisher , Pingle was nominated by Premier Charles Stewart and Attorney - General John R . Boyle to become Speaker of the Alberta Legislature . He took up the position on February 17 of the same year . One of the first issues he dealt with was one involving MLA for Beaver River Wilfrid Gariepy . The fact that Gariepy , who did not reside in Alberta , appeared not to be eligible to sit in the house , in accordance with the " Legislative Assembly of Alberta Act " and " Alberta Election Act " , was raised . Although the mention was revoked , Pingle later ruled that it was not his duty to decide on the status of Gariepy , and it was only his duty to recognize every elected member of the house who had been administered the oath of office . He ran for re - election to his third term in office in the 1921 Alberta general election but , contrary to many reports , was defeated in a hotly contested two way race by United Farmers candidate William C . Smith . He was the first Speaker in Alberta to be defeated . Pingle attempted 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 . The election was hotly contested with Pingle winning on the second choice preferences of the new Alternate Vote system . The 1926 Alberta general election was called less than a year later forcing Pingle to run for his fourth term in office . He won the three way race in ballot transfers once again . In 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 born in Scotland . Her father worked as a money broker and manufacturer in his hometown of Watford , Ontario . Pingle and his wife would have two children , Robert Warren and Charles Glendining , the latter dying in infancy . Robert ' s son , also named Charles Steuart , was an unsuccessful Progressive Conservative candidate the Ontario riding Windsor - Walkerville in the 1979 and 1980 elections . Pingle was greatly associated with the Medicine Hat community , sitting on many boards , including the Board of Trade , Rotary Club , and Board of Directors of the Agricultural Society . He also was in the Sons of England Society and Knights of Pythias . He also enjoyed sports , like baseball and curling , where he was president of the board and a skip of a team respectively . He also took interest in music , joining a string quartet and serving as president of a citizens band . The locality of Pingle , near Fort McMurray , which was formerly an Alberta and Great Waterways railway station , was named after him in 1925 . Additionally , a street in Medicine Hat , Pingle Street was also named in his honour . Death and legacy . Pingle attended a conference in the morning on January 10 , 1928 . He returned to his home shortly after noon . He felt a pricking sensation in his hand , and he was unable to use it . His wife urged him to go have a nap . Pingle died at 7 : 20pm that day at his residence in Medicine Hat , of what was reported to be " cardiac troubles " or a stroke . 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 various members of communities he was associated with . St . Barbanas Church , in which it was held was filled to its capacity , prompting many people to stand outside . He was later interred at the Hillside Cemetery in Medicine Hat . His wife , Jean would be buried beside him upon her death on September 6 , 1944 . Senator William Buchanan characterized him as " a fair , dignified and capable presiding officer " , also referring to him as 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 . "