RSS 1.0Estelle Cuffe Hawley fonds 1852-1999, n.d. RG 503
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Estelle Cuffe Hawley (1894-1995) was an educator, businesswoman and politician, who became the first woman alderman on the St. Catharines City Council. She began her career as a teacher in Peterborough in 1913, and later taught in St. Catharines at Connaught School and St. Paul’s Ward School, where she served as Principal for six years. In 1928-29, she worked as an exchange teacher in Edmonton, Alberta. This would be Estelle’s last year in the teaching profession. She moved back to St. Catharines in 1930 and began a career in business, as an employee of Sun Life Assurance Co. She remained in this profession until around 1952. It was during this period that she became very active in the community and local politics. In 1934 she was elected to the St. Catharines Board of Education, where she advocated for the improvement of teachers’ salaries, the introduction of nursing services in schools, and the inclusion of music in the curriculum. She served as a member of the school board until 1937. The following year, she became the first woman elected to the St. Catharines City Council. As an alderman, she worked to improve the community's social welfare services, serving consecutively as chairman of all committees. She established comprehensive health services (including medical, dental and nursing), in the public, separate and secondary schools of St. Catharines, the first program of its kind in Canada. She was also instrumental in establishing minimum housing standards and engaging the public in local government by arranging a series of lectures by city officials.
She remained a member of City Council until 1943. The following year she campaigned unsuccessfully for the mayoralty. In 1953 she married Hubert Hawley and moved to Orillia. She continued to remain active in the community, serving as President of the Ontario Recreation Association from 1950-1953, and editor of their Bulletin from 1955-1961. During the 1960s, she worked with various groups, including the Voice of Women, the Mental Health Association and the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. In addition to this work, Estelle wrote poetry and short stories, some of which were published in the Peterborough Review, the Globe and Mail and the Canadian Churchman. Some of her short stories (often about her childhood experiences) were broadcast on the CBC, as well as her experiences as a Town Councillor (under the pseudonym Rebecca Johnson in 1961). She also broadcast a segment that was part of a series called “Winning the Peace” in April 1944. Estelle was a sought-after public speaker, speaking on topics such as peace, democracy, citizenship, education, and women’s rights.
In 1976, Brock University conferred an honourary Doctor of Law degree to Estelle for her leadership as an educator, businesswoman and a stateswoman. Her husband Hubert died that same year, and Estelle subsequently moved to Mississauga. With the assistance of an Ontario Heritage Foundation grant, she began work on her memoir. She later moved back to Orillia and died there in 1995, at the age of 101.
Click here to view the Estelle Cuffe Hawley finding aidCurrent copyright applies. In some instances, researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Brock University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the Library’s usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
Recent Submissions
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Photograph - Harriet Araminta Drope Cuffe1888-01-25A wedding day photograph of Harriet Araminta Drope Cuffe. The reverse of the photograph reads "Harriet Araminta Drope Cuffe married Jan. 25, 1888. This was made from Ann's original Xmas 1972. Hope you love it as I do. Willa". Harriet's father was William John Drope and mother was Jane Coyle.
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Life Membership Ontario Recreation Association - Estelle Cuffe HawleyA life membership card for the Ontario Recreation Association for Estelle Cuffe Hawley. It is made of metal and the presidents signature is engraved. The bottom of the card reads "Recreation is for everyone - All Ages - All Interests - Year Round"
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ORA Recreation Bulletin September - October 1955Issue No. 8 of the ORA (Ontario Recreation Association) for September - October 1955. This is the first issue that Estelle Cuffe Hawley is editor. She would continue to be editor for six years. In this issue the highlights are "ORA News, What Zones are doing, Hallowe'en suggestions, Programme features".
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Article - "Reward for a Job Well Done"1961-05-29A newspaper article called "Reward for a Job Well Done" from the Orillia Packet and Times in 1961. The article reads "Mrs. Hubert Hawley of Atherley, left is presented with a lifetime membership engraved on silver when she retired after six years as editor of the Ontario Recreation Association's magazine, 'ORA', which is printed in Orillia."
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Series of Talks - Freedom from Hunger CampaignA set of six talks all with the focus of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign during the 1960s.
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Photograph - Estelle Cuffe HawleyA photograph of Estelle Cuffe Hawley as a young woman. A portrait style photograph by "Roy Peterboro, Canada".
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Photograph - Group and William John Dropen.d.A photograph of a group of four women and two men. The far right is William John Drope. The Drope family is part of Estelle Cuffe Hawley's family genealogy.
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Photograph - Estelle Cuffe Hawley1943A photograph of Estelle Cuffe Hawley used during her mayoral race in 1943/1944.
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"My Favourite Pioneer Family" - Orillia Historical SocietyA presentation for the Orillia Historical Society by Estelle Cuffe Hawley about her "two pioneer families, the Dropes and the Cuffes". A genealogy presentation that starts with Thomas Drope leaving Ireland in 1825 with his sons and coming to Hamilton Township. Estelle Cuffe Hawley then explains the family history in detail. She then begins the Cuffe pioneer story starting in 1850 from Ireland to Canada to the union of the two families, her parents.
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Article - "Selling to Women"An article from The Monthly Agency Review, published by the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, titled "Selling to Women" by Miss E.B. Cuffe. The introduction states that Estelle is a decade into service as a Sun Life Representative. Some of the headings within the article are: Younger Women Are Best Prospect Group, Savings Appeal Stronger, T.D.B. and Cash Values, 'Suppose You Marry...', Oil for Marital Waters, For Men Only. She concludes her article with "Being in the great minority in this agency (but no oppressed one, I assure you) perhaps I've been overbold in casting aspersions on the way in which men sometimes approach women to sell them insurance."
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Speech "Our Democratic Responsibility"A speech titled "Our Democratic Responsibility" by Estelle Cuffe Hawley. Within the speech, Cuffe Hawley mentions "...we must face the fact that only by political action can our desires for society become realities; we must choose the political party which will best translate our desires into reality and we must support this party to the limit of our resources and capacity." She goes on to say "On the basis of all the foregoing facts and of my own experience, I have reached the conclusion, after careful deliberation, that the welfare of all the people can best be served by the election of a CCF Government in Ontario on the 4th of August." Estelle Cuffe Hawley proceeds to explain the platform of the CCF party.
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St. Catharines City Council Standing Committees list for 1942A list of standing committees for the 1942 St. Catharines city council, including: Finance committee, Works committee, Civic Development committee, Executive committee, Relief committee, Traffic committee, Housing Standards committee. Estelle Cuffe Hawley is a member of the Housing Standards committee, Traffic committee, Relief committee, Works committee, and Finance committee.
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Speech "If I am elected as mayor..."A brief speech by Estelle Cuffe Hawley at the time of the mayoralty race in the early 1940s.
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Poem - The Voice of WomenA poem from a collection of works by Estelle Cuffe Hawley. This poem is titled "The Voice of Women" and begins "December eighth, nineteen sixty-one here at Tarleton Trees new snow nestles in the foliage of cedars; has laid a soft coverlet over trilliums, tulips, forget-me-nots and all the other loveliness that will be a garden come April."
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Nomination form - Arthur Shilling for Order of Canada1979-11-20A nomination form for Arthur Shilling to receive Order of Canada, completed by Estelle Cuffe Hawley. The form contains a brief list of accomplishments for Shilling and a four page biography.
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Rama Young People's Theatre presents "Ojibway! An evening with David Campbell in Concert"A pamphlet for the Rama Young People's Theatre presentation of "Ojibway!". The evening includes painting by Arthur Shilling.
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Letter from office of Department of Citizenship and Immigration, Indian Affairs Branch to Estelle Cuffe HawleyA letter to Estelle Cuffe Hawley from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, Indian Affairs Branch. The letter reads "I am most interested to find that you are becoming involved in work with the Indians on the Rama Reserve, and hope you can help them find methods of improving both their standards of living as well as their recreational and social opportunities." The correspondence also mentions Hawley's interest in education, "You mention that you plan to speak to a meeting on the Rama Reserve on the subject of Indian education. I would suggest that you get in touch with Mr. H.D. Rodine, Inspector of Indian Schools for Southern Ontario." Attached to the letter is a brochure from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Indian Affairs Branch, titled "The Canadian Indian".
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Article - "Peace That Passeth UnderstandingAn article written by Estelle B. Cuffe in late 1918, following the war. She writes about "Peace on the Battlefield", "Our Boys Reprieved" and "The Men Who Shirked". Estelle concludes her article with the following "But, after all, the job is done and well done. Hats off to those 'heroes and gentlemen'. They have had a rought[sic], hard time; they have hated and loathed it all, but with a grim and stubborn courage, resultant from the knowledge of the righteousness of their cause, they fought on, and they have made the glorious victory ours. To those who shall come home comes the sense of duty done, and the peace of an unaccusing conscience. To our fallen heroes - theirs is the 'peace of God which passeth all understanding.'" Estelle's brother was one of the heroes who was called to duty and died during his time in service. This article was one of many the Estelle wrote for the Peterborough Review.
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Photograph - Estelle Cuffe Hawley, Convocation1976A photograph of Estelle Cuffe Hawley during convocation as she receives her honourary law degree.
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Brock University Order and Form of Convocation, 4 June 1976A programme outline of the June 4, 1976 convocation in which Estelle Cuffe Hawley receives a Degree of Laws Honoris Causa.
