Each year on October 18, we acknowledge Persons Day recognizing the historic day 88 years ago in 1929 when Canada’s highest court of appeal – the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of Great Britain – included women in the legal definitions of persons.
We honour the work done by the Famous Five from Alberta – Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung and Henrietta Muir Edwards – who famously fought for equality and the right for women to sit in the Canadian Senate. It paved the way for women to further participate in public life.
Today, the fight is far from over. Women are still underrepresented at nearly all levels of elected government across the country.
Today we are reminded of how much has been accomplished, but how much more work still needs to be done. MoveUP is committed to working towards that goal on behalf of all our members.
This year, in conjunction with Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Government of Canada is using Persons Day to recognize remarkable women who have changed the course of Canada’s democracy using the hashtag #ClaimYourPlace on social media.
Learn more about the Persons Day and #ClaimYourPlace at http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/pd-jp/index-en.html.
Lori Mayhew, MoveUP Secretary-Treasurer
