Ted Grant Photographs Ottawa’s new ‘Meter Maids’ at Bank and Clarey

From the series "Meter Maids" (1960), Ted Grant captures some of the action at Bank and Clarey in the Glebe. Image: Ted Grant / LAC Accession 1981-181 NPC Series 60-965A, Image 177.
From the series “Meter Maids” (1960), Ted Grant captures some of the action at Bank and Clarey in the Glebe. Image: Ted Grant / LAC Accession 1981-181 NPC Series 60-965A, Image 177.

Just a quick share of the Glebe that we do not normally get to see. The photograph is part is an extensive collection taken by Ted Grant titled “Meter Maids.” After having observed examples from the United States, the Ottawa Police began to hire women into the force, largely to enforce parking regulations. The recruits had to be at least 5’5″ tall, in good health and unmarried. Unsurprisingly, they were not introduced without controversy. The first 21 recruits hit the streets on May 16, 1960 after a six-week training course.1For more information about their introduction in Ottawa, see “Parking Meters Dubious Solution To Traffic Ills,” Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 1957, p. 7; “Meter Maids Will Check On Parking,” Ottawa Citizen, August 6, 1959, p. 2; “‘Meter Maids’,” Ottawa Journal, August 5, 1959, p. 1; “Pay For ‘Meter Maids’,” Ottawa Journal, February 13, 1960, p. 6; “Meter Maids Train April 1,” Ottawa Journal, March 24, 1960, p. 5; “‘Meter Maids’ Steal the Show,” Ottawa Journal, May 14, 1960, p. 2; “Meter Maids On Job,” Ottawa Journal, May 16, 1960, p. 1; Roger Appleton. “Ottawa Is Getting More Meter Maids,” Ottawa Citizen, August 6, 1960, p. 12; Paul M. Dunn and Pierre Dumais. “Meter Maids Get A ‘Defender’,” Ottawa Citizen, August 16, 1960, p. 3. It would, of course, be a longer journey for women to move from “meter maids” to “policewomen.”

A Street View approximation of the same shot, 2016. Image: Google Maps.
A Street View approximation of the same shot, 2016. Image: Google Maps.

Notes

Notes
1 For more information about their introduction in Ottawa, see “Parking Meters Dubious Solution To Traffic Ills,” Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 1957, p. 7; “Meter Maids Will Check On Parking,” Ottawa Citizen, August 6, 1959, p. 2; “‘Meter Maids’,” Ottawa Journal, August 5, 1959, p. 1; “Pay For ‘Meter Maids’,” Ottawa Journal, February 13, 1960, p. 6; “Meter Maids Train April 1,” Ottawa Journal, March 24, 1960, p. 5; “‘Meter Maids’ Steal the Show,” Ottawa Journal, May 14, 1960, p. 2; “Meter Maids On Job,” Ottawa Journal, May 16, 1960, p. 1; Roger Appleton. “Ottawa Is Getting More Meter Maids,” Ottawa Citizen, August 6, 1960, p. 12; Paul M. Dunn and Pierre Dumais. “Meter Maids Get A ‘Defender’,” Ottawa Citizen, August 16, 1960, p. 3.