Supplemental Posts

Monday, September 02, 2024

Charlotte Whitton Plaque

The plaque commemorating Charlotte Whitton, now in two parts, hangs on the wall, at the east end of the Hall of Mayors in the building that was formerly the Ottawa Teacher's College and is now part of Ottawa City Hall. That building is on the northeast corner of Elgin Street and Lisgar Street. The Hall of Mayors and the plaques are on the second floor.




CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH WHITTON, O.C., C.B.E.
1896 – 1975

The first woman mayor of Canada's capital, 1951–56 and 1961–64, Charlotte Whitton was born in Renfrew, educated there and at Queen's University. In 1920 she became secretary of the Canadian Council on Child Welfare (later the Canadian Welfare Council) and as its first executive director, 1926–1941, worked energetically to improve the condition of indigent mothers. Fiery and controversial, Charlotte Whitton represented Canada on the League of Nations Social Questions Committee and investigated Alberta welfare practices for the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, of which she was a lifelong member. She wrote prolifically on a variety of subjects including lumbering in Ottawa, and Canadian women in war. Her many distinctions included honourary degrees from Smith College, Queen's and Acadia Universities.

Erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Recreation


CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH WHITTON, O.C., C.B.E.
1896 – 1975

Première mairesse de la capitale du Canada, de 1951 à 1956 et de 1961 à 1964, Charlotte Whitton naquit à Renfrew où elle fit ses études qu'elle poursuivit à l'université Queen's. Secrétaire du Conseil du bien–être de l'enfance en 1920, puis première directrice administrative, de 1926 à 1941, elle s'efforça d'amélfirer la condition des mères nécessituses. Ardente et controversée, elle représenta le Canada au Comité des questions sociales à la Ligue des Nations, et enquêta sur les problèmes sociaux en Alberta, au nom des Filles de l'Empire dont elle était membre à vie. Auteur prolifique, signalons ses écrits sur la coup du bois dans l'Outaouais et sur les femmes canadiennes pendant la guerre. Ses nombreuses distinctions comprennent de doctorats honorifiques de Smith College et des universités Queen's et Acadia.

Erigée par la Fondation Heritage, Ministre de la Culture et des Loisirs