Cecile O'Regan
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Cecile O'Regan | |
|---|---|
| Ottawa Alderman Serving with Charlie St. Germain | |
| In office March 30, 1960[1] – December 31, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | May Nickson |
| Succeeded by | David Dehler |
| Constituency | St. George's Ward |
| Serving with Ralph Brunet | |
| In office June 3, 1963 – December 31, 1964 | |
| Preceded by | Jules Morin |
| Succeeded by | Jules Morin |
| Constituency | By Ward |
| Serving with Charlie St. Germain | |
| In office January 1, 1964 – December 31, 1966 | |
| Preceded by | David Dehler |
| Succeeded by | Rhéal Robert |
| Constituency | St. George's Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March[2] 15, 1891 |
| Died | February 8, 1979 (aged 87)[2] |
| Party | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Spouse | William Thomas O'Regan[3] (m. 1911; died 1954)[4] |
| Children | 3[5] |
| Profession | Housewife[6] |
Cecile O'Regan (née Gauthier;[4] March 15, 1891 – February 8, 1979) was a Canadian politician. She served as an alderman on Ottawa City Council from 1960 to 1962 and from 1963 to 1966. She was the second woman to sit as an alderman on council.[6] Known for her colourfulness, she was active in Liberal Party circles, including a stint as president of the National Federation of Liberal Women. She was also known for her volunteer work, especially with St. Vincent Hospital.
O'Regan was born in Montreal,[1] in 1891, the daughter of Cordélia Désy and Pierre Gauthier. She moved to Ottawa at the age of 12.[2] She was educated at the Notre Dame Convents in both cities.[1][7]
O'Regan had many volunteer positions during her life. Within the Liberal Party, she was secretary and executive of the Eastern Ontario Liberal Association, Vice President of the Ontario Liberal Association, vice president, at large, of the Ontario Women's Liberal Association,[7] president of the Ontario Liberal Women's Association,[8] president and founder of the Lady Laurier Club of East Ottawa.[7]
Outside of politics, she was the president of the Sacred Heart branch of the Federation of French-Canadian Women,[9] president of St. Vincent de Paul's Ladies Auxiliary, and president of Jeanne d'Arc Institute.[5]
1936 federal by-election
O'Regan ran for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in a by-election in 1936 in the riding of Ottawa East as an Independent Liberal. She ran on the slogan, "[m]ay the best man win, and a woman lead him".[10] She won 1,849 votes, nearly 8,000 votes behind the winner, Joseph Albert Pinard.[11] O'Regan decided to run for the seat after losing the Liberal nomination to Pinard.[12] In the nomination meeting, O'Regan won 1,100 votes to Pinard's 2,149 on the first ballot, finishing third, and was eliminated.[13] Following the vote, O'Regan was "satisfied that the convention verdict was not the choice of the electors", and declared there was "uncertainty as to the legality of the convention".[14] She claimed that "there were so many outsiders [who] voted that it was quite impossible to say there was any winner. The convention was poorly organized".[15] It was the first time a woman ran for federal office in the city,[16] and she was the first French Canadian woman to run for the House of Commons.[10]
National Federation of Liberal Women presidency
In 1950, O'Regan was elected president of the National Federation of Liberal Women (now known as the National Women's Liberal Commission), replacing Nancy Hodges.[7] She held that position until 1952, when Mrs. C. J. Embree was elected.[17]