Nancy Guptill facts for kids

Nancy Evelyn Guptill (born April 28, 1941 – died August 24, 2020) was an important Canadian politician from Prince Edward Island (PEI). She was a member of the Legislative Assembly (like a provincial parliament) from 1987 to 2000. She belonged to the provincial Liberal Party.

Nancy Guptill represented two different areas, called electoral districts. First, she represented 5th Prince from 1987 to 1996. Then, she represented St. Eleanors-Summerside from 1996 to 2000. She is well-known for being part of PEI's "Famous Five" group of women. This happened when she became the Speaker in 1993.

Early Life and Family

Nancy Guptill was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on April 28, 1941. Her parents were Lloyd and Evelyn Garrison. She studied at the Halifax Vocational School and the Victoria General Hospital.

In 1964, she married L.R. Gregg Guptill. They had three daughters together. In 1975, her family moved to Summerside on Prince Edward Island.

Political Career Highlights

Nancy Guptill began her political journey on the town council for Summerside, Prince Edward Island. She served two terms there. She later shared that she never planned to enter politics. She decided to run for office only after someone told her she had no chance of winning. This was because she was not from PEI and was a woman.

Becoming an MLA

Despite the doubts, she was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1987. An MLA is a person elected to represent a specific area in the provincial government. Two years later, she joined the provincial cabinet. This is a group of top government ministers.

She served as Minister of Tourism and Parks from 1989 to 1991. Then, she was Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for the Status of Women from 1991 to 1993. During her time as an MLA, Nancy Guptill worked hard to create jobs for people in Summerside.

The Famous Five

On April 15, 1993, Nancy Guptill was chosen as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. She held this important role until 1996. The Speaker leads the meetings in the Legislative Assembly.

When she became Speaker, she joined a special group known as PEI's "Famous Five." This group included:

• Marion Reid (the Lieutenant Governor, who represents the King or Queen)
• Catherine Callbeck (the Premier, who is the head of the provincial government)
• Pat Mella (the Leader of the Opposition, who leads the main party not in power)
• Libbe Hubley (the Deputy Speaker)

This was a historic moment! It was the first time in any Canadian province that all five top legislative positions were held by women. Premier Callbeck remembered Nancy Guptill for being very fair as Speaker.

Working in the Legislature

As Speaker, Nancy Guptill worked with local police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). They improved security at Province House, the building where the legislature meets. This happened after an incident in 1995.

Nancy Guptill found balancing her work in the legislature with her home life challenging. However, her husband's support and her daughters being older helped a lot. Because of her experience, she believed in shorter working hours for female MLAs. This would allow them to raise a family while serving in government.

Later Years

Nancy Guptill decided to retire as an MLA before the provincial election in 2000. In 2008, she was named the chair of the provincial Workers Compensation Board. This board helps workers who get injured on the job.

Nancy Guptill passed away on August 24, 2020, in Summerside. She was 79 years old. Her daughter mentioned that Nancy had faced health challenges in the years before her death.