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3. COMMEMORATIVE NAMING PROPOSAL - “CHARLOTTE WHITTON ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY BUILDING”
PROPOSITION DE DÉSIGNATION COMMÉMORATIVE - « ÉDIFICE DES ARCHIVES ET DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE CHARLOTTE- WHITTON »
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That Council approve the commemorative naming of the Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Technical Services Facility as the “Charlotte Whitton Archives and Library Building.”
Recommandation du ComitÉ
Que le Conseil municipal approuve le nom commémoratif « Édifice des archives et de la bibliothèque Charlotte-Whitton » visant à nommer l’Immeuble des archives centrales et du centre de distribution du matériel de la bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa.
DOCUMENTATION
1. Mayor Watson’s report dated 20 April 2011 (ACS2011-CMR-CCB-0049).
2. Extract of Draft Minutes dated 3 May 2011.
Finance and Economic Development Committee
Comité des finances et du développement économique
and Council / et au Conseil
20 April 2011 / le 20 avril 2011
Submitted by/Soumis par : Jim Watson, Mayor / Le maire
City Wide/À l'échelle de la Ville
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Jim Watson, Mayor / Le maire
613-580-2496, Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca
That the Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend Council approve the commemorative naming of the Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Technical Services Facility as the “Charlotte Whitton Archives and Library Building.”
Que le Comité des finances et du développement économique recommande au Conseil municipal d’approuver le nom commémoratif « Édifice des archives et de la bibliothèque Charlotte-Whitton » visant à nommer l’Immeuble des archives centrales et du centre de distribution du matériel de la bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa.
The Commemorative Naming Policy, approved by City Council on July 24, 2002, outlines the criteria for commemoratively naming a municipal street, park or facility. A commemorative naming honours individuals who have made a significant contribution to the City of Ottawa or whose name has historical significance to the City of Ottawa.
The City of Ottawa is in the final stages of completing the new Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library (OPL) Technical Services Facility. Achieved through a partnership with the Government of Ontario, this facility is designed to protect important historical records for the City. In keeping with the facility’s significance and its importance to residents, it is proposed that the facility be commemoratively named after one of Ottawa's most historic and celebrated Mayors, Charlotte Whitton.
Dr. Charlotte Elizabeth Whitton, OC, CBE, (1896-1975), who was once described as “Canada’s most famous woman,” served as the 46th and 48th Mayor of the City of Ottawa. She was first elected to public office in 1950 when she won a seat on Ottawa’s Board of Control. Following the sudden death of Mayor Grenville Goodwin in 1951, Whitton’s Council colleagues elected her to Head of Council, becoming the first female Mayor of a major city in Canada. She would serve as Mayor from 1951 to 1956 and again from 1960 to 1964.
During her term as Mayor, Whitton’s accomplishments included the construction of important civic institutions, including the former City Hall on Green Island. Prior to Whitton’s mayoralty, the City had been without a permanent City Hall for nearly 25 years after a 1931 fire destroyed the former City Hall. Whitton also fought to increase the number of affordable housing units in the City, which was particularly needed at the time for Canadian soldiers returning from war.
Following her time as Mayor, Whitton's municipal service continued. She returned to politics in 1966 when she was elected Alderman for Capital Ward and then Councillor for the Ottawa-Carleton Region in 1970, positions she held until 1972.
One of Whitton’s greatest achievements was the manner in which she pushed boundaries by promoting civic engagement among women. Whitton’s first electoral victory was often attributed to her ability to harness the women’s vote, or the “Petticoat Brigade,” as the local media dubbed it. The number of people who turned out to vote in the 1950 election set a City record and many attributed the high turnout to Whitton’s campaign. In later elections, she encouraged women to participate in the electoral campaign process by wearing a sewing needle and thread on their lapel. These supporters were affectionately dubbed “Charlotte Women.”
Whitton is also remembered as a social worker who fought passionately for the rights and social welfare of women and children. Prior to holding elected office, Whitton served on the Canadian Council on Child Welfare and on the League of Nations Social Questions Committee. In recognition for her work in the area of social welfare, Whitton was made a Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 1934, received the Jubilee Medal in 1936, and a Coronation Medal in 1937. In 1939, Whitton received a honourary Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.) degree from King’s College and a honourary Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.) degree from Queen’s University in 1941. Perhaps most notably, Whitton was made an Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.) in 1967.
In 1973, the Council Chambers at the former Ottawa City Hall were commemoratively named “Whitton Hall”. Whitton Hall served as the City of Ottawa Archives from 1998-2003. The proposal to name the Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Technical Services Facility as the “Charlotte Whitton Archives and Library Building” would continue the name most recently used for the place that held the City of Ottawa Archives, and is in keeping with the spirit of the City's Commemorative Naming Policy as it celebrates the historical and significant impact Whitton has had on the City of Ottawa.
Two existing street names commemorate Whitton, but both are minor in scale and only include her last name: Whitton Crescent and Whitton Place. Both of these streets are located in the Overbrook community. In order to avoid confusion with these street names, the new commemoration proposed includes both Charlotte Whitton’s first and last name. The Office of Emergency Management feels that the recommended facility name is distinct and therefore has no objections.
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Councillor Chiarelli is aware of this proposal and is in support of it.
There are no legal implications associated with this report.
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Financial expenditures associated with this Commemorative Naming proposal are provided through the City Clerk and Solicitor Department's existing operating budget.
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Staff will implement the decisions of Committee and Council.
COMMEMORATIVE NAMING PROPOSAL - “CHARLOTTE WHITTON ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY BUILDING”
PROPOSITION DE DÉSIGNATION COMMÉMORATIVE - « ÉDIFICE DES ARCHIVES ET DE LA BIBLIOTHÈQUE CHARLOTTE- WHITTON »
ACS2011-CMR-CCB-0049 College/Collège (8)
REPORT RECOMMENDATION:
That the Finance and Economic Development Committee recommend Council approve the commemorative naming of the Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Technical Services Facility as the “Charlotte Whitton Archives and Library Building.”
The following correspondence was received with respect to this item and is held on file with the City Clerk:
· E-mailed letter dated 2 May 2011 from Louis Patry
The following delegations spoke in opposition to the report recommendation:
· Ms. Vera Gara
· Mr. Mitchell Bellman, Jewish Federation of Ottawa
· Mr. Louis V. Patry
· Mr. Eric Vernon, Canadian Jewish Congress
· Mr. David Gladstone
· Mr. Jean-Yves Pelletier
The report recommendation was then put to Committee and CARRIED, as presented, on a division of 8 YEAS TO 1 NAY as follows:
YEAS (8): P. Clark, D. Deans, A. Hubley, P. Hume, M. Taylor, D. Thompson, M. Wilkinson, Mayor Watson
NAYS (1): K. Egli