Background
Fairclough, Ellen Louks was born on January 28, 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Daughter of Norman Ellsworth and Nellie Bell (Louks) Cook.
politician member of the House of Commons of Canada
Fairclough, Ellen Louks was born on January 28, 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Daughter of Norman Ellsworth and Nellie Bell (Louks) Cook.
Student, Hamilton; Doctor of Laws, McMaster University, 1975.
Born Ellen Louks Cook in Hamilton, Ontario to Norman Ellsworth Cook and Nellie Bell (Loucks) Cook, Fairclough was a chartered accountant by training, and ran an accounting firm prior to entering politics. Fairclough first ran for federal office as a Progressive Conservative in the 1949 federal election, in which she was defeated by incumbent Liberal MP Colin Gibson in Hamilton West. In 1958, she became Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and from 1962 until her defeat in 1963, she was Postmaster General.
As Immigration Minister in 1962, Fairclough introduced new regulations that mostly eliminated racial discrimination in immigration policy. She also introduced a more liberal policy on refugees, and increased the number of immigrants allowed into Canada. Fairclough was also Acting Prime Minister of Canada from February 19 to February 20, 1958.
She was the first woman ever given the duty. Toward the end of her term in office, Fairclough sought an appointment to the Senate of Canada, but was not appointed. She was defeated in the 1963 election by Liberal Joseph Macaluso.
Fairclough was defeated in her bid for re-election in the 1963 election. She subsequently worked for the Hamilton Trust and Savings Corporation as a senior executive, as well as being chairperson of Hamilton Hydro. Fairclough was active in the Consumers Association of Canada, the Girl Guides, the I.O.D.E., the Y.W.C.A., the United Empire Loyalist Association, and the Zonta Club of Hamilton and Zonta International, before, during and after her stay in office.
In 1982, the Ontario government office tower on the corner of MacNab and King Streets in Hamilton was officially named the Ellen Fairclough Building. In recognition of her status as a pioneering woman in Canadian politics, she was granted the rare honour of having the title Right Honourable bestowed upon her in 1992 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, one of very few Canadians to have the title who had not been Prime Minister, Governor General or Chief Justice. At the Progressive Conservative leadership election, 1993, Fairclough was a supporter of Kim Campbell, and gave the speech to formally nominate Campbell on the convention floor.
In 1995, she published her memoirs, Saturday's Child: Memoirs of Canada's First Female Cabinet Minister. She died in a Hamilton, Ontario nursing home on November 13, 2004. On June 21, 2005, Canada Post issued a postage stamp in honour of Fairclough.
When the PC Party took power as a result of the 1957 federal election, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker appointed her to the position of Secretary of State for Canada.
Past vice president Young Conservatives Ontario. Board directors Canada Council Christians & Jews. Patron Huguenot Society, United Empire Loyalists Association Hamilton Branch Can.
Alderman Hamilton City Council, 1946—1950, controller, 1950. Past chairman Hamilton Hydro Electric Commission, 1974—1986. Honorary treasurer director Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals Foundation, 1977—1989, executive director, 1983—1986.
Fellow: Chartered Accountants. Member: Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Imperial Order Daughters Empire (officer, provincial & national chapters 1935-1948), General Accountants Association Canada (life), United Empire Loyalist Association (dominion secretary 1935-1940), Faculty Club, Albany Club (Toronto), Hamilton Club, Zonta Lodge (president, Hamilton 1940-1942).
Married David Henry Gordon Fairclough, January 28, 1931 (deceased). 1 child Howard Gordon (deceased).