Betty May Cutler was a Canadian author, journalist and publisher died she was , 87.. Cutler founded Tundra Books in her basement in 1967, becoming Canada's first female publisher of children’s books.[2] Cutler also served a four-year term as the first female mayor of Westmount, Quebec from 1987 to 1991.[2](September 4, 1923 - March 3, 2011)
Life and career
Early life
Cutler was born May Ebbitt in the east end of Montreal in 1923.[1][2] Her parents, Francis (née Farrell) and William Ebbitt, a police officer, were Irish immigrants.[2] She married Phil Cutler, a Canadian labor lawyer, who died in 1987.[2] The couple had four sons - Keir, Adam and Michael, who are twins, and Roger.[2]Cutler earned both her bachelor of arts and her master of arts degrees from McGill University in Montreal.[2] She next obtained a second master of arts in journalism from Columbia University in New York City.[2]
Early career
Cutler worked for the United Nations following her graduation from Columbia University.[2] Cutler returned to Canada, where she became a columnist and reporter for the former Montreal Herald. She also wrote magazine articles for the now defunct Montreal Standard.[2] Cutler was only the second woman to be hired by the Canadian Press.[1]She would later join the faculty of McGill University, where she founded a three-year curriculum program for journalism.[2]
Tundra Books
In 1967, Cutler founded Tundra Books in the basement of her home. In doing so, Cutler became the first Canadian woman to become a publisher of children's books in history.[2] Cutler owned and operated Tundra Books for more than 28 years.[2] She openly sought out writers and artists to author children's books for her publishing house. Cutler was the first publisher to release works by Stéphane Poulin, a French-language illustrator and author, and William Kurelek, who released A Prairie Boy’s Winter and They Sought a New World through Tundra Books.[2] In addition to children's publishing business, Cutler also published books by architect Moshe Safdie and novelist Roch Carrier, including his work The Hockey Sweater.[3]Cutler successfully guided Tundra Books through financial difficulties, as well as the death of her husband in 1987, which coincided with her political campaign for mayor of Westmount.[2] Tundra Books was sold to the McClelland & Stewart publishing firm in 1998.[2]
Cutler also wrote and published her own works during her career. She published her novel, The Last Noble Savage, in 1967.[2] She also penned a musical, two theatrical plays and a biography of Kurelek entitled Breaking Free: The Story of William Kurelek.[2]
Mayor of Westmount
Cutler decided to enter politics in 1987 following several personal and professional disagreements with the local government. The city council of Westmount, Quebec, had refused her request for a zoning change which would have allowed Tundra Books' headquarters to move to the street-level floor of Sherbrooke Street which she had purchased.[2] Cutler announced her candidacy for mayor of Westmount in 1987, which was her first political campaign.[2] She defeated incumbent Westmount Mayor Brian Gallery in the 1987 mayoral election, becoming the first female mayor of the city.[2] Gallery later praised Cutler's handling of the transition of power saying, "She was listening, she asked good questions...I walked away from our chat thinking she’ll be a good friend. The keys to the city will be in very good hands."[2] Montreal city councilman Marvin Rotrand also noted that Cutler's election, "marked a sea change from the clannish, traditional way that Westmount had always been run." Cutler served one four-year term as Mayor of Westmount. Cutler declined to run for re-election in 1991 and asked then Westmount city coucilman Peter Trent to run to succeed her as Mayor.[2] Trent was successfully elected in 1991 when Cutler stepped down from office.[2]Later life
May Cutler travelled to Antarctica in 2010 for a six week trip.[2] She died in her home in Montreal on March 3, 2011, at the age of 87, after being hospitalized in February.[2] She had suffered from several illnesses. Cutler was survived by her four sons and six grandchildren.[2]To see more of who died in 2010 click here
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