Fonds P029 - Barbara M. Hanley fonds

Barbara McCallum Hanley, the first woman Mayor in Canada, was born to Catharine Mitchell and Henry John Smith on March 2, 1882 in Magnetewan, Ontario. She worked as a public school teacher at Trout Creek, Emsdale and Chetwynd before teaching at Webbwood in 1909. On August 27, 1913 she married Joseph B. Hanley, a Locomotive Foreman for the Canadian Pacific Railway. The following year they adopted a daughter named Ella. From the time that Hanley moved to Webbwood in 1909, she was involved in community activities in the town. In 1923, she was elected to the Webbwood School Board, and by 1935, Hanley was the first woman councillor. On January 6, 1936 she was elected as Mayor, when she ran against her male opponent, Robert E. Streich. In 1940, Hanley served on the executive of the Sudbury and District Municipal Association. Other positions that she held were: Chairman of the Relief Board, Member of the Resolutions Committee for the Provincial Board of Education, President of the Algoma Trustee and Ratepayers Association and Director of the Ontario Educational Association. In 1944, Hanley decided to step down as Mayor after serving for eight consecutive terms. She continued to work as the Clerk/Treasurer for Webbwood from 1946-1950. Barbara Hanley passed away on January 26, 1959 at the age of 76.