Background
Wightman was born in Nesbitt, Manitoba.
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Reginald Wightman
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated at Manitoba University, which later became the University of Manitoba.
Career
He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a Liberal-Progressive from 1949 to 1958. 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 Saint James School Board for four years, and as a councillor for six years.
Wightman became Mayor of Saint 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 Modern Language Association Ernest R. Draffin by 1,214 votes in the constituency of Assiniboia. He was re-elected in the 1953 election, defeating Cleveland Clinic Foundation 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 Saint 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 Saint James–Assiniboia. He died in Winnipeg at the age of 81.
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Born
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Died
January 23, 1981 (aged 81) -
Nationality
Canada -
Political Party
Conservative