Diane Morrison

Homelessness advocate

Obtained a Bachelor of Education at McGill University and a Master of Public Administration at Queens University.

Worked for 20 years as a professional educator.

Appointed Executive Director of The Ottawa Mission in 1992; she was the first woman appointed to this position. Under her guidance and leadership, The Ottawa Mission has grown from a small emergency homeless shelter to an active community resource.

Is a founding member of The Alliance to End Homelessness.

In April 2004, was honoured with the Women of Distinction Award from the YM/YWCA. In 2005 she was named by The Ottawa Sun as one of five people who changed the face of Ottawa.

http://www.ottawamission.com

Sharon Anne Cook

Professor, researcher, historian, author

Earned a bachelor degree in Arts at Carleton University in Ottawa in 1970, and her bachelor in Education from Queens University the next year.

Taught history at secondary schools from the Carleton Board of Education for a decade before completing a Master degree at the Institute of Canadian Studies Carleton University in 1987, then her Ph.D. in History in 1990.

Joined the Faculty of Education of the University of Ottawa as an associate professor in 1990 and has been a full professor since 1997. Currently teaches in the graduate program in the Faculty of Education and is the Assistant Director of the Teacher Education Program.

Is a prolific author having published extensively in her areas of research which are feminist theory and methods, gender theory, health history, historical analysis, history of education, social studies education and women’s studies.

Published the first comprehensive study of women and smoking in Canada, Sex, Lies, and Cigarettes (2012); this work explores women’s long association with smoking in this country – first as implacable opponents of male smoking, and as protectors of children who would be smokers, then as consumers themselves, and as sexualized symbols to sell tobacco.

Has received numerous accolades and teaching awards since 2004. Is a Distinguished professor at the University of Ottawa since 2010.

www.ottawacitizen.com
http://www.education.uottawa.ca

Sheila E. McKee

Politician, community leader

Lived in Kanata (now part of Ottawa) from 1968 to 2010; died in 2010.

Well-known and respected member of the community of Kanata; was involved in countless community and volunteer groups including Kanata Golf Club, KBCA, March Rural Association and the Women’s Institute.

Was alderman of Kanata from 1982 to 1985 and councillor of Kanata three times between 1991 and 2000; first got involved in politics as a writer for the then Kanata Standard.

Was also President of the Board of Directors of Community Child Care of Ottawa and vice president of the March Rural Community Association (MRCA).

Was commissioner of Kanata Hydro, on the board of management at Pinhey’s Point, the board of the Kanata Public Library and an integral part of the city’s rural summit task force.

On June 14, 2012, the city of Ottawa named a West Carleton-March park in her honour. The park, located at 1730 Sixth Line Rd., was formerly named Riverfront Park.

www.flagstick.com

www.ottawacitizen.com

www.yourottawaregion.com

Louise Hine-Schmidt

Pioneer firefighter

Became one of Ottawa’s first female firefighters in 1999.

Along with two colleagues, she also helps women discover what a career in the fire service is all about by offering an annual week-long summer event that shows women age 15 to 19 what is required to be a firefighter and that it's a job they can do (Camp FFIT).

Historical Note: As of 2011, nearly 4% of Ottawa’s full-time uniformed firefighting staff are women, a total of 41. There are 91 women employed - 63 work as front-line firefighters, 50 of them volunteers.

http://cnews.canoe.ca (Firefighters mark International Women’s Day)

http://www.yourottawaregion.com

Elizabeth Embury

Pioneer doctor

Born in Lennox County circa 1867; moved to Ottawa in 1906; died in Kingston in 1945.

One of the first women to graduate with a medical degree from Queens University (1888); was a prominent Canadian physician for 55 years and one of the first women to practice medicine in Canada.

She practiced medicine in Ottawa for 37 years (1906-1943). Upon retirement in 1943, she moved to Kingston.

Ottawa Citizen, February 5^th, 1945
www.fmwc.ca

Pat Durr

Artist, arts advocate

“Be assured that the state of the visual arts in this city and country would be in a very sorry state if it were not for the dedication of Pat Durr,” Adrian Göllner, Ottawa artist

Originally from Kansas, Missouri, moved to Ottawa in 1964.

Her artistic work includes drawings, paintings, prints and installations.

Recently had a major solo show at the Ottawa Art Gallery — a retrospective exhibition entitled Persistance of Chaos with several decades of her work on display dating back to the 1960s.

Has been active not only as an artist but as an advocate for artist rights and in developing cultural policy in the city of Ottawa and in Canada. She was instrumental in establishing Arts Court and the Ottawa Art Gallery, and is past president of CARFAC.

In June 2012, won the National Visual Arts Advocacy Award, given by CARFAC, the group that represents visual arts nationwide; this award honours  “a professional artist who has made a significant contribution to the Canadian visual arts community.”

www.ottawacitizen.com

www.couchassassin.com

http://www.artengine.ca

Kimothy Walker

News anchor, journalist, community advocate

Grew up across Canada; settled in Ottawa in 1982.

Graduated from Carleton University School of Journalism.

Has spent almost half her life working for CTV in Ottawa and the Valley. Presently anchors and produces the Weekend News.

In 2008, she was voted one of the Capital's top "Forty Under 40". She is also a Y Woman of Distinction Nominee, and an award-winning journalist.

She is a voice for survivors of child sexual abuse and has launched a nationwide campaign to bring attention to the issue. Was also a board member for Ottawa Race Weekend from 2006-2011 and is an Advisor to the Algonquin College Victimology program, a Community Ambassador for the Y, a champion for organ donation, as well as working regularly with CHEO. She also makes about 100 appearances a year for various other charitable causes.

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/tl/about_us/anchors/kimothy-w.htm

Catherine Seward

Mentor in lifelong learning

“I’ve learned that I’ve got to have patience with myself, and that I could never give up, even when I was sick and I wanted to give up.”  — Catherine Seward

Fulfilled a lifelong dream when she graduated from high school while she was in her 60s;  she was valedictorian of her graduating class.

Now at 80 years old, she has reached her next milestone — graduating from Carleton University with an English degree in June 2012. It took her 11 years to complete her BA due to obstacles such as illness and course load.

As a teenager, she became ill and had to stop attending high school. She later took stenography courses and worked many years as a civil servant and later moved to Toronto to work for a life insurance company. She eventually moved back to Ottawa where she married and raised a family.

She has now finished her very first short story and plans to keep writing and possibly publishing her work.

www.ottawasun.com