Women of Impact in Canada, Past and Present
Highlighting Women's Achievements
The Canadian Government has designated this year’s theme for Women's history month to be Women of Impact in Canada. It is about highlighting the achievements of women and girls, past and present, who have shaped Canada in fields like politics, science, arts, business, and the economy.. Below is a brief selection of women who have made contributions to Canada and beyond, spanning two centuries. More information is available on the national page for Women's History Month.
In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month coincides with Persons Day, the commemoration of the 1929 “Persons Case,” when the Famous Five fought to have women legally recognized as persons under the British North America Act, securing the right to sit in the Senate.
Emily Howard Jennings Stowe
Born 1831, Stowe was a physician, teacher, school principal, and a founder of the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association. She was also the first female principal of a public school in Ontario.
Dr. Alice Hamilton
Born in 1869 in New York City, Hamilton was a leading expert in the field of occupational health. She was a pioneer of toxicology, studying occupational illnesses and the dangerous effects of industrial metals and chemical compounds.
Mary Ann Camberton Shadd
Born 1823 in Delaware, Shadd was the first Black woman in newspaper publishing in North America. She promoted the abolition of slavery through her newspaper and aided the emigration of former slaves to Canada.
Agnes Macphail
Born 1890 in Ontario, Macphail was an activist and founder of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada, and became the first woman elected to the House of Commons.
Dr. Vera Peters
Born 1911 in Ontario, Peters conducted groundbreaking research on Hodgkin’s lymphoma and breast cancer, and pioneer of patient-centered care, now the standard model in health care.
Réjane Laberge-Colas
In 1969, Laberge-Colas was a member in the Quebec supreme court, and became the first woman in Canada to be appointed as a judge to a superior court.
Women and Gender Equality Canada
For more information about Women's History Month and women in Canada and beyond who are noted for their achievements and impact in Canada and beyond, go to the federal website's page for women and gender equality.
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