Today, take a moment to think about the women who have helped to build our marvellous country, Canada.
Oct. 18 is the 95th anniversary of the Persons Case which was led by Alberta’s Famous 5 and resulted in the first legal declaration of the principle of equality, when the word “persons” was defined as meaning both women and men by the Privy Council of Great Britain. This meant that both women and men were to participate in the building of Canada.
One of the major results of the Persons Case victory — led by Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Calgary’s Nellie McClung — was the appointment of women to our Senate.
Senate appointments are based on a geographical basis and the first opening happened in Ontario, in Ottawa. Appointments were also largely made on a political affiliation basis. On Feb. 15, 1930, a community leader and Liberal, Carine Wilson, was appointed our first female senator. The first female senator from Alberta was Martha Bielish, who was appointed in 1979 by then-prime minister Joe Clark.
Currently, three of Alberta’s six senators are women — Paula Simons, Patti Laboucane-Benson and Karen Sorensen — and there are slightly more female senators than male serving at this time — 54 to 48, with three vacancies.
Clark also established Oct. 18 as Persons Day, and the Governor General’s Awards in commemoration of the Persons Case, which are presented each year to five remarkable women and a youth who have significantly improved the lives of women and girls. Last year, a women’s health leader, Calgary’s Maria Wu of Maud Medical Clinic, was announced as a Governor General’s Persons Case recipient and will receive her award at a private event in Calgary today from Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon.
The Persons Case decision also established our constitutional law foundation. The Privy Council of Great Britain decided that it was possible to alter the Canadian Constitution to allow women to be appointed to the Senate because it was a “living tree.” This is an incredibly unique and valuable gift. As a result, our Constitution can evolve as Canadians evolve. In fact, it provides encouragement for us to do so.
When the federal legislation for the Same-Sex Marriage Act of 2005 was referred to the Supreme Court of Canada, it was deemed legal and contained as its first citing the Persons Case. Advocates for other injustices have likewise cited the Persons Case as proof that we are evolving.
Today, the Famous 5 Foundation challenges others to declare their own trailblazers. Ten years ago, the Indigenous Famous 6 was recognized for their triumph of returning Indigenous status to Indigenous women who married non-Indigenous spouses. This victory also enfranchised their children, and was achieved by Jeanette Corbiere-Lavell, Sharon McIvor, Yvonne Bedard, Lynn Gehl and senators Sandra Lovelace and Eva Dyck.
Please join us at the Women Are Persons monument in Olympic Plaza at noon to celebrate the Famous 5 and the 95th anniversary of the Persons Case. Or organize a Pink Tea with four friends to say thanks, discuss better ideas and commit to making Canada a more equitable country.
On the 70th anniversary of the Persons Case, the Women Are Persons monument was unveiled by then-Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Premier Ralph Klein and Calgary Mayor Al Duerr. Indigenous sculptor Barbara Paterson designed the monument so that the conversation about how to build Canada could continue, and the first person to sit in Murphy’s chair was Shawnee Price, a Blackfoot young woman.
After 25 years of inspiring and comforting many — and infuriating some — these democratic champions will be carefully stored in a heated City of Calgary facility until they grace a Calgary site next spring.
Frances Wright is the CEO and co-founder of the Famous 5 Foundation (F5F).