Charlotte Elizabeth Whitton, O.C., C.B.E. 1896-1975

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2006

Plaque Location

The City of Ottawa
Attached to a rock on the west side of a paved pathway
along the west side of Green Island
between Sussex Drive and Union Street

Coordinates: N 45 26.330 W 75 41.666

Plaque Text

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, 1926-41, 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 on the Ottawa and Canadian women in war. Her many distinctions included honourary degrees from Smith College, Queen's and Acadia Universities.

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Posted August 27, 2009
This plaque requires serious and immediate restoration

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