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Time Traveller: Trailblazing Mayor Carrie Cates helped shape the City of North Vancouver

Cates defeated three male candidates to become the City of North Vancouver's first female mayor
Mayor Carrie Cates

One of the predominant female political figures who helped shape the City of North Vancouver was former mayor Carrie Cates (1905- 1977). Cates, who served as mayor from 1964 to 1969, was the first woman to be mayor of the City of North Vancouver. She was first elected to city council as an alderman (councillor) in 1962. Two years later she defeated three male candidates to become mayor. Cates was re-elected in 1965 and 1967, and chose not to run in the 1969 mayoralty election.

Current North Vancouver City Mayor Linda Buchanan is the third female mayor in the city’s history, following Cates and Barbara Sharp. This photo shows Mayor Cates at a centennial ceremony in 1967.

Visit the MONOVA website for more information about the history of the North Shore and to learn about MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver opening in Fall 2021.

Currently, MONOVA: Archives of North Vancouver at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only. Contact: archives@monova.ca

Navigate culture on the North Shore by using the North Shore Culture Compass.