In the mid 1920's Alberta's judge Emily Murphy fought, and won her position that women can be appointed to the highest of offices in Alberta.
However she knew that the battles she went through, would have to be repeated in every province in Canada before they could enjoy the same rights she fought so hard to get. So she came up with a plan.
She got herself nominated by a considerable number to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. Knowing full well that the men of the day were not happy with this, and hung their hats on old British law that said women were in fact... not persons.
Rejection came her way through a series of courts right up to the Supreme Court of Canada. Three Prime Ministers, while in their terms of office, spread over 5 yrs., all agreed that she could not be appointed as sought.
So she and 4 others took their matters to Britain. The cover page of that historic case is shown above.
However she knew that the battles she went through, would have to be repeated in every province in Canada before they could enjoy the same rights she fought so hard to get. So she came up with a plan.
She got herself nominated by a considerable number to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. Knowing full well that the men of the day were not happy with this, and hung their hats on old British law that said women were in fact... not persons.
Rejection came her way through a series of courts right up to the Supreme Court of Canada. Three Prime Ministers, while in their terms of office, spread over 5 yrs., all agreed that she could not be appointed as sought.
So she and 4 others took their matters to Britain. The cover page of that historic case is shown above.
Here we see the five women who became known as the Alberta Five, and the Famous Five.
The results of that case, the extensive details of which you hopefully read in my last blog, are detailed in Emily Murphy's story to the press, shown above.
Back in Canada, the lawmakers were obligated to finally seriously entertain the appointment of women to our Senate. The liberal government did not choose Emily, a Conservative or any to the other four non Liberals advocates for this change.
They instead turned to a fellow Liberal, who went on to serve admirably. Her name was Carine Wilson.
Back in Canada, the lawmakers were obligated to finally seriously entertain the appointment of women to our Senate. The liberal government did not choose Emily, a Conservative or any to the other four non Liberals advocates for this change.
They instead turned to a fellow Liberal, who went on to serve admirably. Her name was Carine Wilson.
Her appointment was received within several months of the famous Persons Case decision, and would last for an incredible period of 1930 till her death in 1962. It would be the longest so serving in our history so far.
Seventeen years later a most interesting event took place!
An Ontario female lawyer by the name of Mary Ebert wrote a story about the events of 50 years earlier, the time when the actual Persons Case was heard and decided.
The story was found by Ms. Jo MacFadden. She brought it to the attention of Maureen O'Neil who was then the serving coordinator in Prime Minister Joe Clarke's Ministry of the Status of Women.
The women convinced David MacDonald the then serving Minister of Status of Women that it being the 50th anniversary of such a major event, the government should do something about it.
Soon a plan developed to seek out nominations from across Canada for a women the nominator felt most deserving of an award for their service to the country. The idea was to have 5 women selected, each representing one of the original Famous Five.
These women would be brought to Ottawa, attend several gala events, meet with the Prime Minister and other dignitaries and then be brought forth in a most formal ceremony to the Governor General. The women would then be presented with a medal by the Gov. General.
That medal was to be called the Persons Award. Prime Minister Clark approved the plan, and so did Governor General Edward Schreyer.
Seventeen years later a most interesting event took place!
An Ontario female lawyer by the name of Mary Ebert wrote a story about the events of 50 years earlier, the time when the actual Persons Case was heard and decided.
The story was found by Ms. Jo MacFadden. She brought it to the attention of Maureen O'Neil who was then the serving coordinator in Prime Minister Joe Clarke's Ministry of the Status of Women.
The women convinced David MacDonald the then serving Minister of Status of Women that it being the 50th anniversary of such a major event, the government should do something about it.
Soon a plan developed to seek out nominations from across Canada for a women the nominator felt most deserving of an award for their service to the country. The idea was to have 5 women selected, each representing one of the original Famous Five.
These women would be brought to Ottawa, attend several gala events, meet with the Prime Minister and other dignitaries and then be brought forth in a most formal ceremony to the Governor General. The women would then be presented with a medal by the Gov. General.
That medal was to be called the Persons Award. Prime Minister Clark approved the plan, and so did Governor General Edward Schreyer.
The Status of Women's Minister MacDonald proclaimed the selected for such an honor...
I've yet to find a picture of 1979 recipient Marion Royce.
Originally calling for the medals going to 5 nominees, apparently the credentials were so high that the government just could not reduce the number from seven in that first year of the awards.
Thus for the first of only two occasions, the medal went to 7 recipients. The second was in 2004.
You can read the names of all recipients between 1979 and 2022... at... https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/governor-general-awards.html
Throughout the medal's history 6 medals were awarded in 17 of the years while in 21 years 5 medals were awarded. The awards for 2019 were not awarded until March 8th of this year, it being International Women's Day. On that date only 4 women were awarded.
A few weeks earlier, on Feb. 14th Minister Ien of the relatively new Ministry called "Women and Gender Equality Canada," (the replacement of the former Status of Women Ministry) announced the 2019 recipients of the Persons Award.
An announcement that came three years after it should have happened and telling of the 4 recipients for 2019, even though not happening until in 2022.
In her press release the minister proclaimed that the theme was..."Women Inspiring Women. It celebrates women and girls across Canada who continue to demonstrate outstanding leadership while contributing to Canada's social, economic, cultural and political spheres."
One must wonder how the failure to award a minimum of 5 medals in each of the years since inception, the failure to make any awards for 2019 in that year, and holding off on doing this til 2022, and the failure to make any presentations for the years 2020 and 2021 meet these goals that it expects nominees to reach.
Originally calling for the medals going to 5 nominees, apparently the credentials were so high that the government just could not reduce the number from seven in that first year of the awards.
Thus for the first of only two occasions, the medal went to 7 recipients. The second was in 2004.
You can read the names of all recipients between 1979 and 2022... at... https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/governor-general-awards.html
Throughout the medal's history 6 medals were awarded in 17 of the years while in 21 years 5 medals were awarded. The awards for 2019 were not awarded until March 8th of this year, it being International Women's Day. On that date only 4 women were awarded.
A few weeks earlier, on Feb. 14th Minister Ien of the relatively new Ministry called "Women and Gender Equality Canada," (the replacement of the former Status of Women Ministry) announced the 2019 recipients of the Persons Award.
An announcement that came three years after it should have happened and telling of the 4 recipients for 2019, even though not happening until in 2022.
In her press release the minister proclaimed that the theme was..."Women Inspiring Women. It celebrates women and girls across Canada who continue to demonstrate outstanding leadership while contributing to Canada's social, economic, cultural and political spheres."
One must wonder how the failure to award a minimum of 5 medals in each of the years since inception, the failure to make any awards for 2019 in that year, and holding off on doing this til 2022, and the failure to make any presentations for the years 2020 and 2021 meet these goals that it expects nominees to reach.
This is the actual medal the honorees receive. It is not a depiction of the actual five who fought the battle on 1929 but a simple depiction of five women. It comes with a suspension ribbon, white in the earliest days and as late as 1989 when my mother became a proud recipient, but over the years has somehow been transformed into mainly green. Here we see three such medals with the newer suspension ribbons to be worn around the neck.
At various government websites, it is clearly noted that there is a requirement to select at least 5 recipients, that presentations are to be made annually and that same are to happen on October 18th. But from the above you can see that the federal government fails to meet the high standards it expects the nominees to reach.
On another matter, for well over a year my mother Cathryne Armstrong, Lynn Gough and Cathy Blazkow reached out to prominent women, women's groups, prominent citizens and others to have the federal government proclaim October as Women's History Month in Canada.
After their considerable efforts, aided by a few others, they met success in 1992 when it was proclaimed that October was to be Women's History Month. Today is the last day of that month for this year.
Here is the 1992 announcement from the Status of Women Ministry's head... Minister Mary Collins.
On another matter, for well over a year my mother Cathryne Armstrong, Lynn Gough and Cathy Blazkow reached out to prominent women, women's groups, prominent citizens and others to have the federal government proclaim October as Women's History Month in Canada.
After their considerable efforts, aided by a few others, they met success in 1992 when it was proclaimed that October was to be Women's History Month. Today is the last day of that month for this year.
Here is the 1992 announcement from the Status of Women Ministry's head... Minister Mary Collins.
It is hard to read but the statement claimed "the idea came from women's organizations and by women who represented the academic community." It added that "the concept was to publicly recognize the significant... but often overlooked contributions and achievements of Canada's women."
It went on to add that the move showed ..."her vision of providing a way to acknowledge the accomplishments of women," and that it..."reminds us that the initiatives of the present are built on the accomplishments of the past."
She ended by saying that such a month... "will be a time of recognition and celebration of women's contributions to our history as a nation and a people."
Yet in the very statement honouring those who have done so much in our history the Minister could not even include the names of the three Victoria BC women who started the movement in the first place.
It went on to add that the move showed ..."her vision of providing a way to acknowledge the accomplishments of women," and that it..."reminds us that the initiatives of the present are built on the accomplishments of the past."
She ended by saying that such a month... "will be a time of recognition and celebration of women's contributions to our history as a nation and a people."
Yet in the very statement honouring those who have done so much in our history the Minister could not even include the names of the three Victoria BC women who started the movement in the first place.
Here during this year's Womens' History Month, are the recipients of the Person's Award for 2022.
Going back to 1999, on 18 October a private consortium unveiled a monument to the Famous Five in Calgary. it was officiated by none other than Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. Here is that memorial....
Going back to 1999, on 18 October a private consortium unveiled a monument to the Famous Five in Calgary. it was officiated by none other than Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. Here is that memorial....
The five depict the Famous Five, with Emily Murphy standing by a chair. Many tourists and others have posed for pictures sitting in that chair, beside Emily. The women are looking at a version of the news reports back in 1929 re the case. Here is a blow up of that image...
On October 18 2000 a slightly different version of the above monument was unveiled at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Governor General Clarkson, Prime Minister Chretien, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Secretary of State for the Status of Women all attended the unveiling.
About a month after the 75th anniversary of the Persons Case, and new $50 bill was introduced in Canada. Here it is...
About a month after the 75th anniversary of the Persons Case, and new $50 bill was introduced in Canada. Here it is...
This bill, unveiled on November 17th 2004 depicts Sir William Lyon Mackenzie King on the one side and the Famous Five monument on the reverse.
After the death of all of the Famous Five, in 2009 all were posthumously named Honorary Senators.
Earlier this year, in my long frustration at the lack of announced Persons Award recipients for several years, I wrote an email to the offices of the Governor General.
Here is a portion of that email...
After the death of all of the Famous Five, in 2009 all were posthumously named Honorary Senators.
Earlier this year, in my long frustration at the lack of announced Persons Award recipients for several years, I wrote an email to the offices of the Governor General.
Here is a portion of that email...
I've yet to get a response.
It is only by fluke that I stumbled on the 2019 awards, made earlier this year. But those for 2020 and 2021 have yet to be apparently made.
Accountability to the people of Canada, through my email, seems of little importance to the offices of the Governor General of Canada, or probably some lower ranked folks in the department now filling the boots... or highheels ... of the folks at the ministry of Women and Gender Equality Canada.
This falls far short of treatment they expect from those being nominated for the Persons Award.
See you next time,
Bart
It is only by fluke that I stumbled on the 2019 awards, made earlier this year. But those for 2020 and 2021 have yet to be apparently made.
Accountability to the people of Canada, through my email, seems of little importance to the offices of the Governor General of Canada, or probably some lower ranked folks in the department now filling the boots... or highheels ... of the folks at the ministry of Women and Gender Equality Canada.
This falls far short of treatment they expect from those being nominated for the Persons Award.
See you next time,
Bart
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