Helena Squires
Encyclopedia
Helena Squires, née Strong (1879 - 1959) was a politician in Newfoundland
. She was born in Little Bay Islands
.
) and was a mother of 7 children. She attended The St. John’s Methodist College and Mount Allison University
where she was trained to be a teacher. She was also a social activist who worked to found a teachers school and a maternity hospital. She was elected in 1930 in a by-election and lost her seat in 1932.
One of her sons, named after her husband, Richard Anderson Squires, served with Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment in the Canadian army during the Second World War. He was killed on June 17, 1942 at Headley Downs, England. The 31-year-old Lieutenant had been riding on the outside of his tank during manoeuvres in order to direct his driver when the tank lurched, throwing him forward and under the track of the moving tank.
When Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, Lady Squires was elected the first president of the provincial Liberal Association a position she held until 1958. Helena died in 1959 at her retirement home in Toronto
.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. She was born in Little Bay Islands
Little Bay Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador
Little Bay Islands is a community in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It consists of Little Bay Island, Macks Island, Goat Island, Harbour Island, and Boatswain Tickle Island. The highest mount is Campbell Hill, which is 125 m high....
.
Biography
Lady Helena E. Squires (née Strong) was born in Little Bay Islands, Newfoundland in 1879. She became the first woman to stand for and win a seat in the Newfoundland and Labrador (formerly Newfoundland) House of Assembly, in the 1930 by-election as the Member for the District of Lewisporte. She was the wife of the prime minister of the province (Sir Richard Anderson SquiresRichard Squires
Sir Richard Anderson Squires KCMG was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1932.-Early career:...
) and was a mother of 7 children. She attended The St. John’s Methodist College and Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
where she was trained to be a teacher. She was also a social activist who worked to found a teachers school and a maternity hospital. She was elected in 1930 in a by-election and lost her seat in 1932.
One of her sons, named after her husband, Richard Anderson Squires, served with Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment in the Canadian army during the Second World War. He was killed on June 17, 1942 at Headley Downs, England. The 31-year-old Lieutenant had been riding on the outside of his tank during manoeuvres in order to direct his driver when the tank lurched, throwing him forward and under the track of the moving tank.
When Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, Lady Squires was elected the first president of the provincial Liberal Association a position she held until 1958. Helena died in 1959 at her retirement home in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.