Margaret Eleanor Theodora Addison

Margaret Eleanor Theodora Addison (October 21, 1868 – December 18, 1940) was a Canadian educator and the sixth woman to graduate from Victoria College, then located in Cobourg, Ontario. She was the first dean of women at Victoria College.

Biography Addison was born in Horning's Mills, Ontario, Canada, into a strong Methodist family. She was the first of five children born to a preacher, Peter, and Mary, who was a Sunday school teacher. She is described by Chambers as "a stalwart, intelligent figure who trained as a teacher and worked steadfastly to achieve good teaching positions first in Stratford and later in Lindsay, Ontario."

Addison taught mathematics and chemistry at the Ontario Ladies’ College in Whitby (1889–1891) before becoming a specialist in French and German at Stratford Collegiate Institute (1892–1900) and Lindsay Collegiate Institute (1901–1903). In 1898, the job of fundraising was adopted by the Victoria College Alumnae Association, of which Addison was president. On completion of the building in 1903, the college asked her to become the first dean of women. Although it promised a cut in salary, she accepted the position and remained there for 28 years until 1931. During that time, she "tenaciously advocated for more and better housing, and educational options for female students." The Margaret Addison Scholarship for women pursuing postgraduate studies outside Canada was created to recognize her contributions to women in higher education.