May Nickson

Jessie May Nickson, known as May Nickson, was the first woman elected to the Ottawa City Council serving from 1955 to 1960.

Born Jessie May Shaw May 29, 1918 in Ottawa, she died June 5, 2010 from ALS. She graduated in 1940 from Queen's University, Kingston, Ont. with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She spent four years in Canberra, Australia, then returned to work for Statistics Canada.

Her husband Rex Nickson died in 1997. She was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the age of 89.

May Nickson Place, a 12 story apartment building in downtown Ottawa, at 340 Gloucester Street, was named in her honor by Ottawa Community Housing Corporation.

References

Ottawa Citizen, obituary, June 5, 2010.