Dorothy Corrigan
Encyclopedia
Mary Dorothy Corrigan was a Canadian
politician. She was the 38th Mayor of Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
, and to date, the only female to hold that office.
Corrigan was born Mary Dorothy Hennessey. She originally pursued a career
as a nurse, but entered politics
following the death of her husband, Dr. Ernest Corrigan. Her first public office was as an alderman
in Charlottetown's Ward 2 prior to running for mayor of the city in 1968.
She was elected as the city's first female mayor in the fall of 1968. Corrigan served as mayor until 1972. She worked at the landmark Hotel Charlottetown
after leaving city hall.
Dorothy Corrigan lived independently at her home until 2009. She died at the Garden Nursing Home in Charlottetown on March 20, 2010, at the age of 96. Her funeral was held at The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Charlottetown.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician. She was the 38th Mayor of Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and to date, the only female to hold that office.
Corrigan was born Mary Dorothy Hennessey. She originally pursued a career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
as a nurse, but entered politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
following the death of her husband, Dr. Ernest Corrigan. Her first public office was as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Charlottetown's Ward 2 prior to running for mayor of the city in 1968.
She was elected as the city's first female mayor in the fall of 1968. Corrigan served as mayor until 1972. She worked at the landmark Hotel Charlottetown
Hotel Charlottetown
The Hotel Charlottetown was built by the Canadian National Railway in 1931 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.Its most notable guests were Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who stayed at the hotel during Prince Edward Island's centennial Confederation...
after leaving city hall.
Dorothy Corrigan lived independently at her home until 2009. She died at the Garden Nursing Home in Charlottetown on March 20, 2010, at the age of 96. Her funeral was held at The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Charlottetown.