Women's History Month

Persons Day - October 18

On October 18, 1929 the Persons Case was settled when the Privy Council in England declared that Canadian women were indeed 'persons' under the law and thus could be appointed to the Senate.

In honour of this decision, October is declared Women's History Month in Canada and the 18th is Persons Day.

Maquette of the Famous Five monument, sculpted by Barbara Paterson of Edmonton.  Commissioned by the Famous Five Foundation of Calgary.

Five women from Alberta are responsible for changing the definition of ‘person’ to include women.  The ‘Famous Five’ first asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question “Does the word 'person' in the British North America Act include female persons?”

The Persons Case  [excerpt from federal government website.]   top

The Persons Case of 1929 was a landmark victory in the struggle of Canadian women for equality. For eight years, groups had repeatedly requested that a woman be appointed to the Senate, naming Judge Emily Murphy as their candidate. Three consecutive Prime Ministers were advised not to appoint her on the basis that women were not "qualified persons" according to the British North America Act - the constitution that governed Canada.

Emily Murphy invited four Alberta leaders - Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung and Irene Parlby - to join her in an appeal to the highest court in the British Empire. In 1929, the Privy Council ruled that women were indeed "qualified persons", therefore eligible for appointment to the Senate.

The determination of these Famous Five achieved not only the right for women to serve in the Senate, but they and their many contributions paved the way for women to participate in other aspects of public life.