Charles Albert Tanner (1887-1970)

Editor, MLA (1921-1922), MLA (1923-1927).

Born on 29 January 1887 in Winchester, England, the second child in a family of ten children of Charles Francis and Elizabeth Tanner, Charles Tanner immigrated to Canada in 1908, finding work on a farm north-west of Winnipeg. On 23 May 1913, he married Laura Hyndman from Crandall, Manitoba. They moved to the West Kildonan area of Winnipeg where he was employed as a streetcar operator. He later became the Reeve of West Kildonan. The Tanners had three children, John (Jack) Charles, Dorothy Irene and Lawrence Allan. His oldest son Jack, a pilot with the RCAF, was killed in action in 1944 while on Coastal Patrol out of Goose Bay, Labrador.

Tanner was first elected to the Manitoba Legislature in the Provincial election of 1920. He ran as an Independent Labour candidate, defeating the Liberal and Farmer representatives in the constituency of Kildonan and St. Andrews. He was re-elected in the 1922 provincial election with a greater margin of victory. He was unsuccessful running for a third time in 1927. He ran unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in the 1930 federal election in the Winnipeg South constituency. At that time he was employed as the Editor for the Hotel News. He later became the Managing Director of the Manitoba Hotel Association and was made a Life Member of the Canadian Hotel Association at his retirement in 1957.

He was an avid reader of history and world affairs and remained active in politics throughout his lifetime. While he continued to champion for the rights of the “common” man, his political allegiance became tied to the Conservative Party. He was a friend to many of the Party leaders such as Duff Roblin and John Diefenbaker. At one point when Charles was unable to attend a Winnipeg function, Diefenbaker came to hishome on Garfield Street for a visit and to talk politics.Tanner served as President of the Winnipeg South Conservative Association, was a Life Member of Fort Garry Lodge No. 130 AF and AM, a Lifetime Member of Conaught Chapter 9, Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons and a Life Member of Khartoum Temple of the Shrine. He was a Past President of the Elks Club and a member of the Fellowship Club and the St. Andrews Society.

Charles Albert Tanner died on 12 February 1970, at his Winnipeg residence.

Source:

The above information was provided by Mrs. Charlotte Root, a granddaughter of C. A. Tanner.

Profile revised: 31 January 2010

A collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Send inquiries to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Suggest a Memorable Manitoban  |  Sources  |  Acknowledgements