Mary Pellatt

Who was Mary Pellatt?

Mary, Lady Pellatt was the first Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides of Canada. She was awarded the Silver Fish.

Mary Dodgson was born on 1857-04-16 in Toronto, Canada. On 1882-06-15, she married Henry Mill Pellatt, later Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. She was created Chief Commissioner of the Dominion of Canada Girl Guides on 1912-07-24. As early as 1913, she invited Guides to view her palatial home, Casa Loma. Guides became frequent visitors to the house and its grounds. Lady Pellatt also planned trips for the Guides to her country home, Lake Marie Farm, in King, Ontario. She resigned her position in 1921 in ill health. In 1922, Lady Pellatt was presented with the Silver Fish. She died suddenly of heart failure on 1924-04-24. The Girl Guides formed a Guard of Honour for her funeral at St. James' Cathedral in Toronto. She was buried in her Girl Guide uniform in King, Ontario.

Her descendants include great-grandniece Trelawny Linda Howell, who curates a website dedicated to her and Sir Henry's memory: www.CasaLomaTrust.ca.