Maureen McTeer
Encyclopedia
Maureen Anne McTeer is a Canadian author
and a lawyer
, married to Joe Clark
, the 16th Prime Minister of Canada
.
, daughter to John and Bea McTeer. McTeer's father taught her and her older sister, Colleen, to play hockey, resulting in McTeer's childhood dream of playing in the NHL
. Her commitment to feminism was born when her father reminded her that girls don't play in the NHL.
McTeer switched her focus to her academic and debating talents, which earned her a scholarship to the University of Ottawa
. She earned an undergraduate degree in 1973 and a law degree in 1976, both from Ottawa, where she served as features editor of the student newspaper, The Fulcrum, and was a member of the English debate team and the Progressive Conservative Campus Club. McTeer was later awarded an MA in biotechnology, law and ethics from the University of Sheffield
, and in 2008 she received an honorary LL.D. from that institution.
McTeer worked as a staffer in Clark's office before marrying him in 1973. When Clark became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
in 1976, McTeer became controversial — feminism
still being a relatively new social phenomenon at that time — for keeping her own surname and maintaining her own career. McTeer did play a significant role in the 1975-76 Tory leadership race, assisting her husband's campaign. She later created some controversy by not accompanying Clark during his electoral campaigns, and she did not undertake the hosting duties that other Prime Minister's wives
have traditionally done.
In 1982, McTeer and athlete Abby Hoffman were among the organizers of the Esso Women's Nationals
championship tournament for women's ice hockey. One of the tournament's trophies, the Maureen McTeer Trophy, is named for her.
In the 1988 federal election
, McTeer ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in Carleton—Gloucester, hoping to get elected alongside her husband. Despite the party's re-election victory, McTeer was not elected in her riding. As of 2008, however, she remains the only spouse of a former Canadian Prime Minister to have run for political office herself.
McTeer is a specialist in medical law, and for a while was a member of the Royal Commission on Reproductive and Genetic Technologies (1989–1993).
McTeer and Clark have one daughter, Catherine
, who became a public figure in her own right when Clark returned to the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in 1998.
McTeer promoted Frances Itani
's novel Deafening
in Canada Reads 2006
. She promoted its French-language
translation, Une coquille de silence, in Le combat des livres 2006
.
She received the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case in 2008.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, married to Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
, the 16th Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
Life and career
McTeer was born in Cumberland, Ontario and raised in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, daughter to John and Bea McTeer. McTeer's father taught her and her older sister, Colleen, to play hockey, resulting in McTeer's childhood dream of playing in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Her commitment to feminism was born when her father reminded her that girls don't play in the NHL.
McTeer switched her focus to her academic and debating talents, which earned her a scholarship to the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. She earned an undergraduate degree in 1973 and a law degree in 1976, both from Ottawa, where she served as features editor of the student newspaper, The Fulcrum, and was a member of the English debate team and the Progressive Conservative Campus Club. McTeer was later awarded an MA in biotechnology, law and ethics from the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, and in 2008 she received an honorary LL.D. from that institution.
McTeer worked as a staffer in Clark's office before marrying him in 1973. When Clark became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
in 1976, McTeer became controversial — feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
still being a relatively new social phenomenon at that time — for keeping her own surname and maintaining her own career. McTeer did play a significant role in the 1975-76 Tory leadership race, assisting her husband's campaign. She later created some controversy by not accompanying Clark during his electoral campaigns, and she did not undertake the hosting duties that other Prime Minister's wives
Spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada is the wife or husband of the Prime Minister of Canada. To date, 18 women have been the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada; Kim Campbell, Canada's only female prime minister to date, was unmarried during her time in office...
have traditionally done.
In 1982, McTeer and athlete Abby Hoffman were among the organizers of the Esso Women's Nationals
Esso Women's Nationals
The Esso Women's Nationals is the Canadian women's senior ice hockey championship, established in 1982. The winners of the event receives the Abby Hoffman Cup. The second place team is awarded the Fran Rider Cup, while the third place is given the Maureen McTeer Trophy. Nine or ten teams qualify...
championship tournament for women's ice hockey. One of the tournament's trophies, the Maureen McTeer Trophy, is named for her.
In the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, McTeer ran as a Progressive Conservative candidate in Carleton—Gloucester, hoping to get elected alongside her husband. Despite the party's re-election victory, McTeer was not elected in her riding. As of 2008, however, she remains the only spouse of a former Canadian Prime Minister to have run for political office herself.
McTeer is a specialist in medical law, and for a while was a member of the Royal Commission on Reproductive and Genetic Technologies (1989–1993).
McTeer and Clark have one daughter, Catherine
Catherine Clark
Catherine Jane Clark is a Canadian television broadcaster, and the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark and Maureen McTeer.-Life and career:Clark was born in Ottawa, Ontario...
, who became a public figure in her own right when Clark returned to the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives in 1998.
McTeer promoted Frances Itani
Frances Itani
Frances Susan Itani is a Canadian fiction writer, poet and essayist.Itani was born in Belleville, Ontario and grew up in Quebec. She studied nursing in Montreal and North Carolina, a profession which she taught and practised for eight years. However, after enrolling in a writing class taught by W. O...
's novel Deafening
Deafening
Deafening is a 2003 novel written by Frances Itani.Author Frances Itani brings the reader to a small, pre-World War I Ontario town called Deseronto, where the O'Neil family owns a hotel. The book follows the story of Grania O'Neil, a girl who lost her hearing when she was five years old as a result...
in Canada Reads 2006
Canada Reads
Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC.-Overview:During Canada Reads, five personalities champion five different books, each champion extolling the merits of one of the titles. The debate is broadcast over a series...
. She promoted its French-language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
translation, Une coquille de silence, in Le combat des livres 2006
Canada Reads
Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC.-Overview:During Canada Reads, five personalities champion five different books, each champion extolling the merits of one of the titles. The debate is broadcast over a series...
.
She received the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case in 2008.