In 1917, Eda Owen was handed one of the most unusual jobs a woman could have at the time. Most women during this time were expected to do house work and raise children. Eda became a weather lady for the Dominion Meteorological (study of the weather) Office of Canada. She got the job by accident really. Her husband had originally been given the job in 1915, but he went off to fight in World War 1 in 1917 and was killed in battle. So at that point, Eda, who had been working in the office, which was actually their home, took over her husband’s position.
Eda became famous for her unusual job and was known all over the world as “The Weather Lady”. In fact, during this time women were not allowed by law to do many jobs. It was only because she was a war widow (her husband died in the war) that she was allowed to keep this job. Eda Owen was the weather lady from 1917 to 1943. She later died in Calgary in 1957.
