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Ellen Fairclough FaircloughCanadian politician and stateswoman
Date of Birth: 28.01.1905
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Ellen Fairclough: A Canadian Trailblazer
- Early Life and Education
- Political Career
- Federal Parliament
- Cabinet Minister
- Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
- Minister of Post Office
- Post-Political Career
- Honors and Recognition
Ellen Fairclough: A Canadian Trailblazer
Ellen Louks Fairclough was a Canadian politician and stateswoman who made history as the first woman to serve in a federal cabinet.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario, Fairclough came from a working-class family. She became an accountant, one of the first women in Canada to do so, and opened her own accounting firm in Hamilton. At 26, she married Gordon Fairclough, and they later had a son named Howard.
Political Career
Municipal and Provincial PoliticsFairclough was an active member of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. In 1946, she was elected to Hamilton City Council and became deputy mayor in 1949.
Federal Parliament
In 1950, Fairclough won a by-election as a Progressive Conservative candidate for the federal riding of Hamilton West. She became the sixth woman ever elected to the Canadian Parliament and remained the only woman MP until 1953.
Cabinet Minister
In 1957, after Fairclough's re-election to the House of Commons, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker appointed her as Secretary of State for Canada, making her the first female cabinet minister in Canadian federal history. On February 19-20, 1958, she also served as Acting Prime Minister, the first woman to do so in Canada.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Following the 1958 election, Diefenbaker appointed Fairclough as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. She held this post until 1962 and initiated reforms to Canada's immigration policy, shifting the focus from ethnic origin to education and skills.
Minister of Post Office
After the 1962 election, Fairclough became Postmaster General. She remained in this position until the Progressive Conservative government fell in 1963.
Post-Political Career
After leaving politics, Fairclough held an executive position at a trust company, later became chairwoman of Hamilton Hydro-Electric, and served as treasurer of the women's charity organization Zonta International. In 1995, at the age of 90, she published her memoir, "Saturday's Child."
Honors and Recognition
Fairclough received numerous honors and recognition, including:Officer of the Order of Canada (1979)
Companion of the Order of Canada (1994)
Dame of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1985)
"Right Honourable" title from Queen Elizabeth II (1992)
Commemorative postage stamp issued by Canada Post (2005)
Legacy
Ellen Fairclough's legacy as a trailblazer in Canadian politics cannot be understated. She shattered barriers, paved the way for future generations of women, and made significant contributions to Canada's immigration and citizenship policies.
