Patricia Marilyn Nicol (née Ready;[6] March 23, 1935 – October 20, 2023) was a Canadian politician, developer, television commentator and newspaper columnist.
[8] Nicol was born and raised in Elmdale-Victoria Ward in Ottawa, the daughter of Catholic farmer[3] Thomas P. Ready[6][2] and Hilda Margaret Waters.
[3] Nicol's first career was as a public servant in the department of finance, and as a clerk at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, but she stopped working to raise a family.
Running on a platform of improved rapid transit, curbing urban sprawl and more recreational and daycare facilities in the ward, she won the seat, defeating three male candidates, including former alderman Rolly Wall in the process.
[11] During her time as alderman, she claimed to have "served on more committees and had a better attendance record than any other city councillor", and she "looked after her ward like a mother hen, fighting to keep citizens groups happy and fulfil her campaign promises".
She gave herself credit for the approval of the Tom Brown Arena in Mechanicsville, the completion the "Ottawa Wset Plan" and the designation of Hintonburg for neighbourhood improvement grants.
The election was the start of a rivalry with the more left wing Marion Dewar, deputy mayor of Ottawa, who won re-election to the Board of Control, winning the top spot.
Citing public dissatisfaction with Dewar, Nicol announced in August 1980 that she would run against the mayor in the 1980 Ottawa municipal election in a re-match of the 1978 race.
She accused Dewar of "indecisive leadership", "(failing) to bring more industry and jobs to Ottawa", and not "(balancing) expensive reforms with economic growth".
One of her main attacks was accusing the Dewar administration of inefficient management, bringing up the example of the city taking too long to pick a site for a new police station, which was also over budget.
[25] As part of the bankruptcy, sheriff's officers seized Nicol's clothing from her Island Park residence, including underpants, bras, nylons, shoes, and reading glasses.