The story of Margaret Morrison from Ottawa is remarkable. She was known as the city’s first businesswoman, a community leader, and a philanthropist, often referred to as the “baker’s daughter.” However, Margaret’s role in shaping and developing Ottawa cannot be summed up by these titles alone. More about her life and contributions is detailed below ottawa1.one.
Early Life of Margaret Morrison
Margaret Morrison was born on May 11, 1929, in Ottawa. She had an older and a younger sister, who later became known as the “Three Sisters of Ottawa.” She grew up in the oldest house in the Canadian capital—Bayne House. In the late 1920s, this house was purchased and restored by Cecil and Margaret Morrison.
Margaret graduated from Carleton College (now Carleton University) with a degree in journalism. During her studies, she volunteered with “Moral Re-Armament,” a Christian movement that emphasized self-improvement as a means of changing the world.
From a young age, Margaret sought independence. To pay for her education, she worked at one of the family’s businesses—Guardsman’s Restaurant.
The Family Business
In 1933, in Ottawa, Ontario, the family business Morrison Lamothe was founded by brothers-in-law Cecil Morrison and Richard Lamothe. By the 1960s, the company, initially a fresh bread supplier, had become the largest bakery in the Canadian capital. By the late 1940s, Morrison Lamothe had expanded into the restaurant and catering business and entered the frozen foods industry in the 1960s.
Through expansion and modernization, the company acquired the Holiday Farms brand in 1984, moving into the frozen meals sector. In 1990, Morrison Lamothe further strengthened its market presence by acquiring Northern Fine Foods.
In 2005, the company acquired Club Coffee, one of the largest coffee roasters in North America. In 2022, Club Coffee became part of the new operating group OFI.
Today, Morrison Lamothe remains under the leadership of Cecil Morrison’s grandchildren. Margaret Morrison played a key role in the family business, working full-time in its famous bakery.
Personal Life
In the 1940s, the Morrison family business was thriving. Margaret was sent to Geneva, Switzerland, to study French at a monastery. For over two months, she worked diligently to master the language.
In 1957, Margaret married Reginald Hale, who was 18 years her senior. Reginald was a member of the “Moral Re-Armament” movement before falling seriously ill. He was diagnosed with Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome, a rare condition caused by acute adrenal gland hemorrhage, often associated with meningococcal infections. At that time, he was one of only seven people to have survived the disease.
The couple had no children and lived with Margaret’s parents before later residing with her sister Gay. Her nephew, David Pigott, spoke warmly of Margaret, highlighting her caring nature toward her sisters and nephews.
Canada’s Centennial Celebration
In 1967, during Canada’s centennial celebrations on Parliament Hill, Margaret Morrison-Hale was responsible for the 20-foot cake that was ceremonially cut by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Although the interior of the cake was artificial, the frosting was real, and the cake weighed 700 pounds. During the event, Prince Philip personally sampled and complimented the icing.
Ottawa’s First Businesswoman
Margaret Morrison-Hale is often referred to as a trailblazer, and for good reason. She started working in the family restaurant at a young age and later joined the bakery. By the late 1960s, Morrison Lamothe faced financial difficulties.
At the time, Margaret was the director of household services, while her sister Jean Pigott served as the company’s manager. Together, they made difficult decisions that helped the company avoid bankruptcy. Later, Margaret Morrison-Hale was invited to serve as the President of the Baking Council of Canada, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position.
Jean Pigott stepped away from the family business to pursue a parliamentary career. Margaret, in turn, took on the role of President of Morrison Lamothe from 1978 to 1989. From 1989 to 2005, she served as the company’s Chair of the Board. During her tenure, she made the tough decision to close the bakery and shift the company’s focus entirely to frozen food distribution.
Margaret’s Key Decisions
Margaret was actively involved in numerous community organizations and corporate boards:
- She served on the Ottawa Community Foundation.
- She was President of Beechwood Cemetery and Foundation, where she advocated for its designation as Canada’s national cemetery.
- She founded the Friends of the National Library of Canada.
- She was an honorary and lifetime board member of the CANHAVE Children’s Centre and the Ottawa Community Foundation, institutions she helped establish.
- She served as an honorary colonel of the Governor General’s Foot Guards from 2011 to 2013.
For her lifelong contributions, Margaret was recognized in 1998 at the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2006.
Death of Margaret Morrison-Hale
Margaret Morrison-Hale, Ottawa’s legendary business leader, innovator, philanthropist, and one of the city’s “Three Sisters,” passed away on October 28, 2022. Her sister Jean Pigott had passed in 2012. The sisters affectionately called Margaret “Grete.”
Margaret lived a fulfilling life, which she detailed in her 2011 memoir, The Baker’s Daughter: A Long, Rich, and Very Canadian Life.
After Jean Pigott’s passing, Margaret and her sister Gay shared a room at Rockcliffe Retirement Residence. The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly difficult for Margaret, as she had always been socially active, attending numerous events and fundraisers. The isolation was a stark contrast to her usual busy schedule.
From November 21 to 25, 2022, a book of condolences was available at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, and a memorial service was held on November 26 at Beechwood Cemetery. In her memory, donations were encouraged to the Margaret and Cecil Morrison Memorial Fund at the Ottawa Community Foundation or to the Beechwood Cemetery Foundation.
Many who knew her deeply admired Margaret. Former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson noted that she loved Ottawa and Canada and that her presence would be greatly missed. He recalled her involvement in countless organizations and charitable initiatives.
Bibi Patel, former Vice President of the Ottawa Community Foundation, also praised Margaret’s remarkable impact. For Margaret, philanthropy meant love for people, and she truly embodied that spirit.
- https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/grete-hale-1929-2022-bakers-daughter-was-ottawas-legendary-business-leader-and-a-philanthropist
- https://www.morrisonlamothe.com/
- https://www.historypin.org/en/person/61384/explore/geo/45.393983,-75.721366,14/bounds/45.374693,-75.74218,45.413267,-75.700552/paging/1/pin/998199
- https://beechwoodottawa.ca/en/blog/pioneer-business-women-civil-leader-and-philanthropist-marguerite-grete-ann-morrison-hale