November 10, 2016
Province of Manitoba to Host Governor General's Awards to Commemorate the Persons Case
Manitoba will host the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case in Winnipeg on Nov. 15, Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for the status of women, said today.
“Just over 100 years ago, Manitoba women won the right to vote and later became a driving force for the Persons Case, in which the Supreme Court of Canada was asked to decide if women were ‘persons’ in the eyes of the law,” said Squires. “We’re thrilled the awards ceremony will be held in Manitoba to recognize the leaders of today as they make a real difference in their communities.”
While some Manitoba women had the opportunity to vote in municipal and school board elections in the late 1880s, it wasn’t until the early 1900s the campaign for women’s suffrage became a strong political movement. Building on the work of a number of organizations in Manitoba and around the world, a strong group of women formed the Manitoba Political Equality League in 1912. These women reached out across the province, lobbying for the vote with politicians and the public.
Using everything from pamphlets and petitions to theatrical public meetings, the women, including Nellie McClung, E. Cora Hind, Francis Beynon, her sister Lillian Thomas and many others, educated the public about the need for suffrage and how women could use their voices to make change happen. Many supported their hard work, and in January 1916, Manitoba women were the first in Canada to be granted the right to vote.
“The campaign was not without struggles. Racism and fear of the unknown led to tensions within the movement and Indigenous women were not granted the vote until the 1950s,” said Squires. “In spite of the difficulties, the work done leading up to the decision in 1916 led to a significant societal change, both in Manitoba and across the country.”
Squires noted the Manitoba connections of some of the five women who petitioned the Supreme Court to look into the matter of whether women were considered ‘persons’ under the British North America Act. When the Supreme Court ruled that women were not qualified persons under the legislation, the ‘Famous Five’ took their case to the Privy Council in England, who ruled in 1929 that women were persons.
The Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case were established in 1979 by the Right Hon. Edward Schreyer to advance equality and women’s participation across the country while demonstrating the government of Canada’s direction in advancing women’s leadership.
“This is only the second time in the history of the awards the ceremony has been held outside of Ottawa,” said Squires. “We welcome everyone here as they take part in this important event that honours the contributions of women and moves the fight for gender equality forward.”
Past Manitoba recipients of the award include Nahanni Fontaine (2013); Mary Scott (2009); Muriel Smith (2007); Eira Friesen (2003); Stella-Maris Zola Gule-LéJohn (1998); June Menzies (1991); Irene Grant (1990); Jean E. Carson (1988); Berenice Sisler (1986); Sybil Shack (1984); and Isabel Ross Hunt (1983).
For more information about the awards, visit http://swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/gg/index-en.html.
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