Charles Alexander MacDonell was born in Grande Prairie on December 12th, 1924 and grew up in the Rio Grande area. He went to high school in Beaverlodge. He was in the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II. He then went on to graduate from the University of Alberta faculty of law. He married Doreen in 1950 and they went on to have four children. Charles was a well-known lawyer in Grande Prairie and worked at D.W. Patterson’s firm in 1952; in 1962 he went out on his own. He was very active in the Federal Liberal Party and he ran for office in 1965 but lost his bid. Charles was also active in the Lake Saskatoon Masonic Lodge, the Sons of Norway Lodge and the Grande Prairie Kinsman and K40 clubs. Charles passed away in Grande Prairie on October 30th, 1989 at the age of 64.
– Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune, 31 October 1989; 1 November 1989 (article and obituary)
– Pioneers of the Peace, p. 323
