Rae Luckcock's Queen's Park official portrait from 1943. She was the CCF Member of Provincial Parliament for Bracondale. She was elected in 1943, and defeated in 1945.
WELLINGTON NORTH – The Township of Wellington North is pleased to announce that they have received approval from the Ontario Heritage Trust for the installation of a plaque recognizing Margarette Rae Morrison, known as Rae Luckock.
Rae Luckock was born in Arthur in 1893 to James Morrison and Margaret Blyth. In 1943, Mrs. Luckock and Agnes Macphail (the first woman elected to the Federal House of Commons) were the first women elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, both as members of the Ontario Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, a precursor to the New Democratic Party of Ontario.
During her time in the Legislature, Mrs. Luckock advocated for free university tuition, improved rural education, equal pay for women, pay for homemakers, and environmental issues including deforestation. She also co-founded the Housewives Consumers Association, which successfully petitioned for lower food prices in 1948, encouraging the federal government to intervene with companies artificially fixing bread prices.
The Township of Wellington North has received approval from the Ontario Heritage Trust for the installation of a plaque recognizing Margarette Rae Morrison in Arthur. The plaque will be installed in Arthur, on the northwest corner of George Street (Highway 6) and Francis Street, which is adjacent to the historical marker in memory of Morrison’s father, James Morrison.
After leaving Provincial politics, Mrs. Luckock became the president of the Congress of Canadian Women, a peace organization dedicated to world disarmament. Sadly, in the 1950s Mrs. Luckock developed Parkinson’s disease, and spent the last years of her life in the hospital before passing away in 1972.
“Too much time has passed in recognizing such an extraordinary person. Rae was well ahead of her time, entering the Ontario Legislature in 1943, during World War II. A great inspiration for all our residents to be proud of, I am happy this plaque will be a reality,” said Councillor Steve McCabe.
The Rae Luckock plaque is intended to bring well-deserved awareness to Mrs. Luckock’s story and achievements. The plaque will be installed in Arthur, on the northwest corner of George Street (Highway 6) and Francis Street, which is adjacent to the historical marker in memory of Mrs. Luckock’s father, James Morrison. The unveiling event is planned for early fall 2025.
The Township of Wellington North would like to thank MPP Matthew Rae for his letter of support for this project.