George H. Nelms

George H. Nelms (1905 – September 17, 1999) was mayor of Ottawa from 1957 to 1960.^[1] He was an optician by profession. Nelms was born in Thame, Oxfordshire, England in 1905 and came to Canada in 1912. He had two sons, Larry and John and two daughters, Linda and Jane.

George H. Nelms
Nelms (left) with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1957.
47th Mayor of Ottawa
In office 1957–1960
Preceded by	Charlotte Whitton
Succeeded by	Charlotte Whitton
Ottawa Controller
In office 1955–1956
Preceded by	John Powers
Succeeded by	Wilbert Hamilton & Sam Berger
Personal details
Born	1905 Thame, Oxfordshire, England
Died	September 17, 1999 Ottawa

During his term as Mayor, he would welcome Queen Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh to the city in 1957, a visit which included a ceremony to commence construction of the Queensway superhighway project. On June 24, 1957, Nelms opened Laurentian High School. In 1958, Nelms saw the opening of a new city hall facility on Green Island. He was also chair of the Ottawa Transportation Commission under whose watch electric streetcar transit service was replaced with buses.

Nelms died in Ottawa at Grace Hospital aged 94.