Rolande Faucher Soucie

Author, consultant, visionary, advocate for French language culture, rights and services in Ontario

Lives in Ottawa.

Is a consultant in the fields of official languages, education, health, justice, professional development, serving community groups as well as provincial and federal ministries.

Played an instrumental role the development of the francophone community in Orleans, in particular, the construction of the cultural centre in Orleans, called the Centre culturel du MIFO.

Was president of the Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario (ACFO) in 1988 and served the association for a number of years.

Played a key role in numerous franco-ontarian causes including the Montfort Hospital and la Fondation franco-ontarienne.

Received many prizes and accolades for her work and dedication to the development of franco-ontarian cultural resources.

Was chosen by Senator Jean-Robert Gauthier to write his biography for which she won the Prix Champlain in 2009.

http://www.expressottawa.ca/

Ruth Cull

Therapeutic Clown at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa

“The rewards are not only the smiles but also the privilege of being part of the lives of family and kids who display extraordinary courage and inspiration. Throughout my journey I have come to learn that "It is not a matter of being funny, but rather of having fun." – Ruth Cull

Worked as a Registered Practical Nurse in the Operating Room of CHEO for the last 35 years.

Works as a Therapeutic clown at CHEO 3 days/week since 2001.

Has trained with Susie Kleinwatcher, Cheryl Oberg, and Leon McBride and has presented at numerous conferences and education settings to raise awareness of this work.

Has appeared in various media and offers clown workshops for children during their hospital stay.

http://www.therapeuticclowns.ca
http://www.ottawakin.ca/cheoclown.htm
http://kids.cheo.on.ca/en/therapeuticclown

Hélène Brodeur

Writer, historian of franco-ontarian culture

Born in Saint-Léon-de-Val-Racine in Québec, raised in Northern Ontario; died in Ottawa in 2010 at the age of 87.

Studied to become a teacher at the University of Ottawa and also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in 1946.

Worked as a teacher in Ottawa and a newspaper writer. Was the first woman to become the Director of Communications for the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Began her career as a writer in 1957, first by translating books for publishers, then writing for the CBC, Châtelaine, Maclean’s and Flight Magazine. Most of her writing was initially done in English but in 1977, upon her retirement from the federal civil service, she published “Les chroniques du Nouvel-Ontario” (A Saga of Northern Ontario), a historical novel about the French-Canadian presence in Northern Ontario and their role in developing that region of Canada. Went on to publish many more books about Northern Ontario and franco-ontarian culture.

Has received numerous prizes and accolades for her writing and her contribution to franco-ontarian history.

www.aefo.on.ca

http://yourlifemoments.ca
www.famouscanadianwomen.ca

Lilias Ahearn Southam

Philanthropist, girls’s education advocate

Born in Ottawa in 1888; died in 1962.

Daughter of Thomas Ahearn, inventor and Ottawa businessman. He made Ottawa’s first long distance call, brought electric street lights to Ottawa and electric streetcars. His power company at the Chaudière Falls was the first in Canada to use a hydraulic generator to produce electricity.

Married Harry Southam whose family owned the Ottawa Citizen as of 1896; they had four children.

Was one of the first mothers in Ottawa to send her daughters to school in 1919 at the Rockliffe Prep School (later renamed Elmwood).

Became co-owner and a major benefactor of Elmwood School for Girls, and remained on the board of governors until the end of her life.

Through her organization of sponsorships with Ottawa families, she played a key role in helping 24 young British refugees settle in Ottawa in 1940.

Known to use her wealth to help homeless children.

www.citywomanmagazine.ca (Janet Uren)

Elmwood School for Girls

"When you walk through the halls of the school you notice the extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and purpose that our students possess. This is a place where girls feel safe and secure, a place where girls can find their voice, and a place where girls dare to dream big." - Cheryl Boughton, current  headmistress of Elmwood, 2011

Founded as The Rockliffe Preparatory School in 1915 by Theodora A. Philpot. She was the visionary, the founder and the first headmistress of the school.

The school was established on Elmwood Farm (originally called Keefer farm but renamed Elmwood after Mrs. Philpot and Mrs. Fauquier bought the farm); initially, the school had four students, male and female, aged four to seven. The school set out originally to “prepare” young boys to attend a nearby boys' school at age 11 (likely Ashbury College).

From the beginning, the school attracted the attention of Ottawa's elite who sent their daughters to study at that school.

Edith Button, an Englishwoman marooned in Ottawa by wartime lack of transportation, joined the Elmwood staff in 1917 and remained with the school until 1951.

Ethel Fauquier and Lilias Southam, with the assistance of Mrs. Southam's husband, Harry, and her father, the Hon. Thomas Ahearn, purchased the Elmwood property and institution in 1919 in order to allow for its expansion.

Edith Buck, who was Philpot's assistant, became the second headmistress in 1920, and fulfilled that role until 1951.

The Rockcliffe Preparatory School changed its name to Elmwood in 1923 and shifted its vocation from the “preparation” of young boys to the education of young women.

Elmwood was the first Canadian independent day school for girls to adopt the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in 1978.

Wilson House, part of Elmwood, was created and named in honour of Cairine Wilson, Canada's first female senator and long-time Elmwood patron in 1982.

www.elmwood.ca
www.citywomanmagazine.ca (Janet Uren)

Edith Buck

Headmistress of Rockliffe Prep School (later known as Elmwood)

Was assistant to Theodora Philpot, founder and headmistress of Rockliffe Prep School in 1915, and became the school's second headmistress from 1920 to 1951.

www.elmwood.ca

Theodora A. Philpot

Entrepreneur, first headmistress of Rockliffe Prep School (later known as Elmwood)

Theodora Philpot was born to Scottish parents in 19th-century Burma.

Was married to a teacher at Ashbury College in Ottawa.

In 1915, established the Rockcliffe Preparatory School with four students, male and female, aged four to seven in the ohe old house at Elmwood Farm in Rockliffe.

The school set out originally to “prepare” young boys to attend a nearby boys' school at age 11. However, Elmwood also attracted the daughters of Ottawa's elite. Mrs. Philpot was the only teacher at first but soon hired a second to teach French.

The Rockcliffe Preparatory School changed its name to Elmwood and shifted its vocation from the “preparation” of young boys to the education of young women in 1923.

Retired to England in 1920, leaving Elmwood in the hands of Edith Buck for the next 31 years.

Donated a Bible Box, inscribed with the words “Pactum Serva” meaning “Keep the Faith” to the school, and it came with a plea to carry on the work she had started.

http://www.elmwood.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmwood_School_%28Ottawa%29
www.citywomanmagazine.ca (Janet Uren)