Elliott, Sophy L.

Sophy L. Elliott, a well known Montreal writer, artist, lecturer, radio commentator and community activist, was born in Montreal in 1881 or 1882, and lived in the city most of her life. She studied music, however due to an illness, she turned to painting, and after a number of her paintings were exhibited in the Gallery of the Montreal Art Association. Her acquaintances included Mona Elliott, who served as a nurse in World War One. She was on the executive board of the Canadian Author’s Association and worked for fifteen years as newspaper person. She wrote for various magazines in Montreal and in England, authored historical articles, commentaries, and was also the fashion editor of the Montreal Star. While studying Canadian history she became interested in the role of women in the period of the French settlement along the St. Lawrence River. For example, she was the author and illustrator of the book Women Pioneers of North America (1941). Mrs. Elliott was the founder of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps during World War II. She died in 1963 in Montreal.