This blog will bring you the important story of Alex. While very briefly noted in the last blog, and not for the first time in this space, its continuation appears today.
But first I feel a need, also not for the first time in this space, to remind you of the above three great Canadian women during this month. It being Women's History Month in Canada. An important event that was first mentioned here in early 2013, and numerous times since.
It was close to 30 years ago that the three above Greater Victoria BC women joined forces. Their goal being to create a week in BC to celebrate the incredible work that had been done by women over the years in bettering our country. This soon evolved into a formal committee, the celebration being expanded into a full month, and being National rather than Provincial.
For over a year in late 1990, throughout 1991 and early into 1992 the Victoria committee advanced their noble cause. Lyn served as the Chair, Cathy as Honourary Treasurer and my mother Kay as Honourary Patron. They wrote many, many, many letters and carried out other activities to request support from women's groups, law-makers and bureaucrats with a request to write Ottawa noting their support for the creation of the much needed monthly celebration.
On 9 March 1992, International Women's Day, the Honorable Mary Collins, then federal Minister Responsible for the Status of Women issued a press release. She acknowledged that women across Canada had called for, and the government had agreed that it was most appropriate that such a month be created.
The release, and others to follow, failed to mention the names of the three above mentioned woman. Never-the-less, the release told all that October of that year and each from then on would be celebrated as Women's History Month in Canada. (Americans celebrate such a month in March.)
As suggested by the original committee of three, the government also announced that October was chose for a reason.
It was in that month back in 1929 that the famous Person's Case was decided. That case was argued for years by the Famous Five, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Emily Murphy.
The 1929 decision acknowledged that the men of the day, and more particularly... the lawmakers of the day, and the courts had been denying women the right to sit as a member of the Canadian Senate for decades. (A case much covered here in earlier blogs.) The case hinged on the wording of the BNA Act which noted that persons could be allowed to sit on the Canadian Senate. But the men argued for decades that women where NOT PERSONS.
The decision became known as the famous PERSONS CASE and overturned the ridiculous arguments once and for all.
As the Canadian society, and most others throughout the world have progressed over the years, much of this work had been done by the women of the day. Slowly they have been extended so many of the rights that the men of the day have taken for granted.
We still have work to do, And we need to remember those whose shoulders we now stand on, those like the above eight women noted.
Surely the least we can do is remember their names and give them the credits due when occasions like Women's History Month arrive each year.
But go find Kay's, Cathy's and Lyn's names together anywhere in the Canadian press this week!
Shameful!
But first I feel a need, also not for the first time in this space, to remind you of the above three great Canadian women during this month. It being Women's History Month in Canada. An important event that was first mentioned here in early 2013, and numerous times since.
It was close to 30 years ago that the three above Greater Victoria BC women joined forces. Their goal being to create a week in BC to celebrate the incredible work that had been done by women over the years in bettering our country. This soon evolved into a formal committee, the celebration being expanded into a full month, and being National rather than Provincial.
For over a year in late 1990, throughout 1991 and early into 1992 the Victoria committee advanced their noble cause. Lyn served as the Chair, Cathy as Honourary Treasurer and my mother Kay as Honourary Patron. They wrote many, many, many letters and carried out other activities to request support from women's groups, law-makers and bureaucrats with a request to write Ottawa noting their support for the creation of the much needed monthly celebration.
On 9 March 1992, International Women's Day, the Honorable Mary Collins, then federal Minister Responsible for the Status of Women issued a press release. She acknowledged that women across Canada had called for, and the government had agreed that it was most appropriate that such a month be created.
The release, and others to follow, failed to mention the names of the three above mentioned woman. Never-the-less, the release told all that October of that year and each from then on would be celebrated as Women's History Month in Canada. (Americans celebrate such a month in March.)
As suggested by the original committee of three, the government also announced that October was chose for a reason.
It was in that month back in 1929 that the famous Person's Case was decided. That case was argued for years by the Famous Five, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Emily Murphy.
The 1929 decision acknowledged that the men of the day, and more particularly... the lawmakers of the day, and the courts had been denying women the right to sit as a member of the Canadian Senate for decades. (A case much covered here in earlier blogs.) The case hinged on the wording of the BNA Act which noted that persons could be allowed to sit on the Canadian Senate. But the men argued for decades that women where NOT PERSONS.
The decision became known as the famous PERSONS CASE and overturned the ridiculous arguments once and for all.
As the Canadian society, and most others throughout the world have progressed over the years, much of this work had been done by the women of the day. Slowly they have been extended so many of the rights that the men of the day have taken for granted.
We still have work to do, And we need to remember those whose shoulders we now stand on, those like the above eight women noted.
Surely the least we can do is remember their names and give them the credits due when occasions like Women's History Month arrive each year.
But go find Kay's, Cathy's and Lyn's names together anywhere in the Canadian press this week!
Shameful!
I planned on sharing the Alex story today, but on reflection, I now feel that the today's blog should not be distracted by the addition of a 2nd story.
I will return on Wednesday with Alex's story.
Bart
I will return on Wednesday with Alex's story.
Bart
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