The Famous Five

These five Alberta feminists wanted to know the true meaning of "persons" who qualified for appointment to the Senate included women. The five determined women appealed this decision to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain. In 1929, the British court overruled the Supreme Court of Canada's decision and said that women were indeed legal "persons" who qualified for the appointment to the Senate. In 1930, Carine Wilson became the first woman to be appointed to the Senate. By 2001, 34 of the 105 Canadian senators were female! :)


Nellie McClung ; Influencial politician who fought for "equal pay for equal word."


















Emily Murphy ; First female judge to be appointed in Canada (1916). Writer, politician, and advocate for women's rights.















Irene Parlby ; Elected to the Alberta Legislative Assembly in 1921 and appointed to the cabinet. Canada's representative to the League of Nations in 1930.















Henrietta Edwards ; Expert on the legal status of women and children in Canada. Fought for Mother' Allowance (government money to help families raise children.)

Louise McKinney ; In 1997, the first women to be elected to a provincial legislature. ( Alberta)