Blanche Margaret Meagher

Blanche Margaret Meagher

Blanche Margaret Meagher, teacher, diplomat (b at Halifax, NS 27 Jan 1911; d there 25 Feb 1999). Meagher taught in Halifax 1932-42, when she became one of a few pioneering women in the Dept of External Affairs. She served under H.L. Keenleyside in Mexico and Norman Robertson in London, Eng, impressing them with her sound and independent judgment.

From 1958 to 1961 she was ambassador to Israel, the first Canadian woman to hold that rank. She was from 1962 ambassador to Austria, and at the same time governor for Canada on (and later chairman of) the International Atomic Energy Agency. When ambassador to Sweden, 1969-73, she negotiated with representatives of the People's Republic of China towards the establishment of Sino-Canadian diplomatic relations. From 1984-89 she was a trustee for the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Meagher was awarded the Order of Canada in 1974.