Nancy Evelyn Guptill

GUPTILL, NANCY EVELYN, radiotherapist and radiotherapy instructor; b. 28 April 1941 in Halifax, daughter of Lloyd and Evelyn Garrison; m. 23 May 1964 L. R Gregg Guptill, and they had three children, Krista Evelyn, Nancy Elizabeth, and Peggy Elaine; Anglican. Guptill, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in a by-election held 14 September 1987 for 5th Prince. She was re-elected in the general elections of 1989 and 1993. In 1996 she was elected for the new electoral district of St. Eleanors-Summerside. In 1999 Guptill resigned from the Legislature. From 1989 to 1991, Guptill was Minister of Tourism and Parks. On 14 November 1991, she was named Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and served in these positions until 15 April 1993. Following the 1993 general election, Guptill was elected Speaker and remained in that position until the 1996 general election. After the Liberals' defeat in 1996, Guptill became Opposition critic for health and social services. During her time in the Legislature, she served on several committees, including privileges, rules and private bills, social development, and the Special Committee on the Constitution of Canada. Guptill served on the Summerside Town Council in 1982 and 1985, and chaired its Recreation Department. She was a member of the Summerside Area Regional Planning Board and of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Municipalities. Guptill served on the 1991 Canada Winter Games Task Force, in conjunction with her duties as a municipal politician. Educated in Halifax, Guptill attended Queen Elizabeth High School and the Halifax Vocational School, before moving on to the Victoria General Hospital School of Radiotherapy, where she earned her designation as a radiotherapy technologist in 1961. Guptill was a radiotherapy technician at Victoria General Hospital and later a technologist and instructor in the radiotherapy department at St.John's General Hospital in St.John's, Newfoundland. In 1973 Guptill and her family moved to Bedeque, where she became active in the community, especially in the Kinette Club. It was at this time that she joined the Liberal party, first as a party worker and then as president of the 4th Prince Liberal Association. In 1977 the Guptill family moved to Summerside. Once again she became actively involved in the community. Guptill taught Sunday school, served as church superintendent, and was a member of the St. Mary's Church choir. Guptill was the coordinator of the Summerside Heart Fund, and a member of the Summerside Area Adult Development Centre and the Summerside Chamber of Commerce. She was a member of the host committee for the 1983 Canadian Junior and 1986 Canadian Senior Softball Tournaments. Nancy Guptill and her husband reside in Summerside.