Charles Edwin Greenlay (June 8, 1899
Early life
Born at High Bluff, on 8 June 1899, son of Gardner Greenlay and Eliza Donnelly, he was educated at High Bluff and the Portage Collegiate Institute. He ran a garage at High Bluff until 1930, when he entered political life. On 8 November 1930, he married Gladys B. Northcott, daughter of George H. Northcott, of Portage la Prairie. Together they had three children: Norma, Gayle, and Andrew. He was also active member of the Methodist Church, and was instrumental in the formation of the United Church in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
Political life
Greenlay first entered political life in 1930 as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie. In 1943, persuaded by his childhood friend, Douglas Lloyd Campbell, to pursue provincial politics, he was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election held on November 18, 1943, replacing Toby Sexsmith. At this time, Manitoba was governed by a coalition of Liberal-Progressives and Conservatives. Running in Portage la Prairie, Greenlay easily won election as a pro-coalition Conservative. Shortly after his election, the Conservatives renamed themselves as Progressive Conservatives.