It took years to set the scene. Years were women were ignored, pushed aside and generally kept "in their places" according to the men of the day. Years battling with city hall, and various provincial legislatures and then even with the politicians and courts at Ottawa.
But they and their followers did not give in to the draconian, stupid and outright silliness of the day. You've probably heard about it, read it in books and perhaps, with some hope, studied it in school.
Here are those two historic questions. Issues that led to a decision forcing the men to begrudgingly remove their blinders and finally see the light of day. A light that shall never stop shining for all Canadians, regardless of gender.
But they and their followers did not give in to the draconian, stupid and outright silliness of the day. You've probably heard about it, read it in books and perhaps, with some hope, studied it in school.
Here are those two historic questions. Issues that led to a decision forcing the men to begrudgingly remove their blinders and finally see the light of day. A light that shall never stop shining for all Canadians, regardless of gender.
For years women's groups and individuals had been seeking the opportunity to better serve their communities in various aspects. This included membership in the decision making bodies, the local, provincial and federal ministries, departments etc. These of course included the Senate of Canada.
While many women had received nominations for the senate the men of the day came up with a bagful of excuses why such appointments could not be made. Fin ally they rested on an old British case that claimed that women were in fact not persons, and it was only PERSONS who could be appointed to the senate.
Up until 1949, the final court of the land... the Supreme Court, was actually the Privy Council in London. So the five women spiriting the action, having exhausted all avenues within Canada to get some common sense from the powers to be in Canada, decided to take matters to the Privy Council. Thus, the above letter.
The historic decision was handed down on October 18, 1929 , a portion of which is shown here...
While many women had received nominations for the senate the men of the day came up with a bagful of excuses why such appointments could not be made. Fin ally they rested on an old British case that claimed that women were in fact not persons, and it was only PERSONS who could be appointed to the senate.
Up until 1949, the final court of the land... the Supreme Court, was actually the Privy Council in London. So the five women spiriting the action, having exhausted all avenues within Canada to get some common sense from the powers to be in Canada, decided to take matters to the Privy Council. Thus, the above letter.
The historic decision was handed down on October 18, 1929 , a portion of which is shown here...
The five women who fought the case to the highest level were of course later better known as the Alberta Five and the Famous Five. The names of Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Emily Murphy, Henriette Muir Edwards and Louise McKinney shall hopefully be implanted in the hearts and minds forever of all Canadians for their service to Canada.
On Oct 18 1999, the 70th anniversary of the Privy Council decision, this memorial of the Famous Five was unveiled at Olympic Plaza in Calgary. An identical memorial was unveiled a year later, to the day, at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.
This memorial to the famous Five is on the grounds of the Legislature in Manitoba.
This close-up of the above image depicts Nellie McClung telling the world that women are obviously persons. Despite the wide spread and paternalistic views of many men at Ottawa and elsewhere back in the apparent dinosaur age of 1929.
Fifty years later, in 1979 the short lived Conservative government of Joe Clarke left Canadians with a wonderful legacy. That of the Persons Awards.
The story has been told in past blogs here, but the gist of it was that a new award was created to honour five women each year that were nominated from individuals and groups across the country, to receive an award in honour of their work to better the lives of Canadian girls and women, in a wide range of activities.
In that year the nominations were so plentiful, and the credentials so high, that the committee had great trouble in selecting only 5. In fact they couldn't, and so for the first year ever of the awards, they held an elaborate ceremony at Ottawa and presented not five... but 7 awards. This happened again in 2004. On 16 other occasions a total of 6 awards were made. In all others, now totaling 39 years, 5 medals were awarded each year. The current total, from my calculations shows that 247 awards have been made.
Most, but not all occurred on October 18th, and at Rideau Hall. Several years ago a new grade of classification was created and known as the Youth Person's Award. There has also been one if not more times when a male has received the award.
Many years ago the Persons Awards morphed by name into the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.
Fifty years later, in 1979 the short lived Conservative government of Joe Clarke left Canadians with a wonderful legacy. That of the Persons Awards.
The story has been told in past blogs here, but the gist of it was that a new award was created to honour five women each year that were nominated from individuals and groups across the country, to receive an award in honour of their work to better the lives of Canadian girls and women, in a wide range of activities.
In that year the nominations were so plentiful, and the credentials so high, that the committee had great trouble in selecting only 5. In fact they couldn't, and so for the first year ever of the awards, they held an elaborate ceremony at Ottawa and presented not five... but 7 awards. This happened again in 2004. On 16 other occasions a total of 6 awards were made. In all others, now totaling 39 years, 5 medals were awarded each year. The current total, from my calculations shows that 247 awards have been made.
Most, but not all occurred on October 18th, and at Rideau Hall. Several years ago a new grade of classification was created and known as the Youth Person's Award. There has also been one if not more times when a male has received the award.
Many years ago the Persons Awards morphed by name into the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.
This image is of the actual Persons Award. It is quite impressive and measures 2 1/2 inches across, and depicts images of the five suffragettes. Up to 1989 and possibly beyond, it came with a simple white suspension ribbon and was worn around the neck.
Years later the unimpressive ribbon was replaced as shown above.
Next week, not on the 18th for unknown reasons, but on the 19th at Rideau Hall these five women and one youth will be presented with the Persons Award. Their numbers are included in the 247 above noted. If you go to the Governor General's website, you can read the bio's of these most accomplished Canadians. Here is the site ... http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/gg/recipients-en.html
Lets hope that someone at the Status of Woman offices and those of the Governor General realize that next year marks the 40th year for this award and that something special will be created for the celebrations in 2018.
Lets hope that someone at the Status of Woman offices and those of the Governor General realize that next year marks the 40th year for this award and that something special will be created for the celebrations in 2018.
Back in 1992, after a year of advocacy, the efforts of 3 Victoria BC area women paid off with the 9 March 1992 press release issues by MP Mary Collins, the Minister responsible for the Status of Women ministry. They and thousands of supporters across the country called for the government to create a month to celebrate the importance of Canada's foremothers and their incredible deeds throughout our nation's history.
Kathryne Armstrong, a member of the Order of Canada, and a recipient of the Persons Award and many many other awards, certificates and the like over some 40 years of advocacy, served as the honourary Patron of the group of three. She and Lynne Gough, as chair, and Cathy Blazkow, and others later joining, sought out national support for the month. One started by Gough and calling originally only for a week of celebration and limited to the province of BC, but expanded by Armstrong, my late mother, to a month and nation wide.
The Collins press release noted the creation of the month of honour effective in October of that year, now 25 years ago. She advocated that it was to be a ..."time or recognition and celebration of women's contributions to our history as a nation and our people. Her speech writers of course did not think to add in the very release that the month's creation came about after a lengthy coordinated advocacy by Armstrong, Gough, Glaskow and others.
A month to honour women, yet the very proponents could not even be mentioned. HMMMM!
This snafu is not lost on that minister alone. It continues to this day. Go to the website of the Status of Women and look for the names of these three women and be prepared to look for a long time. I could not find any of them. Nor even the fact that we now celebrate the 25th yr of the very month of celebration.
The above site continues with the notice that we should...
Kathryne Armstrong, a member of the Order of Canada, and a recipient of the Persons Award and many many other awards, certificates and the like over some 40 years of advocacy, served as the honourary Patron of the group of three. She and Lynne Gough, as chair, and Cathy Blazkow, and others later joining, sought out national support for the month. One started by Gough and calling originally only for a week of celebration and limited to the province of BC, but expanded by Armstrong, my late mother, to a month and nation wide.
The Collins press release noted the creation of the month of honour effective in October of that year, now 25 years ago. She advocated that it was to be a ..."time or recognition and celebration of women's contributions to our history as a nation and our people. Her speech writers of course did not think to add in the very release that the month's creation came about after a lengthy coordinated advocacy by Armstrong, Gough, Glaskow and others.
A month to honour women, yet the very proponents could not even be mentioned. HMMMM!
This snafu is not lost on that minister alone. It continues to this day. Go to the website of the Status of Women and look for the names of these three women and be prepared to look for a long time. I could not find any of them. Nor even the fact that we now celebrate the 25th yr of the very month of celebration.
The above site continues with the notice that we should...
I would ask those in that office how I can make my claim as above requested to "claim my place in history", for these three women, and, as further requested in the above notice, how I can ...make their mark also at that site.
Questions that really ought not to have to be asked 25 years later.
Enough for tonight,
See you next week, with an important story of a military woman I'll bet you have never heard of before.
Bart
Questions that really ought not to have to be asked 25 years later.
Enough for tonight,
See you next week, with an important story of a military woman I'll bet you have never heard of before.
Bart
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