20 Historic Canadian Women Fact Sheet

International Women's Day Profiles of 20 prominent Canadian women for International Women's Day Emily Stowe Emily Stowe was the first Rosemary Brown female physician to In 1972, Rosemary Brown practice in Ontario. Emily became the first Black fought to be admitted into woman elected in any medical school, after being Provincial legislature. She repeatedly refused entry later became the first into The Toronto School of Black woman to run for Medicine. She was a the leadership of a federal suffragist who founded party, the NDP. the Canadian Women's Suffrage Association. Viola Desmond Viola Desmond was a young Elsie MacGill Black entrepreneur, living in Elsie MacGill was the Halifax. She faced down first woman to earn a segregation when she was Master's Degree in forced from the ground floor aeronautical of a movie theatre - a white's engineering. She only section (1846). Desmond became the first was honoured as the first practicing female Black woman to appear on engineer in Canada. Canadian currency. Michaëlle Jean Adelaide Michaëlle Jean was a Hoodless refugee from Haiti, who After the tragic loss of worked to become a her youngest child, prominent journalist in Adelaide Hoodless Quebec. Jean became the helped found the first first Black person and only Young Christian third woman to hold the Women's Association office of Governor General (YWCA) and later co- of Canada. founded the National Council of Women of Canada Carrie Best Roberta Bondar Carrie Best was the first In 1992, Roberta Black woman to own and Bondar became the publish a newspaper in first Canadian woman Nova Scotia. She used to travel to space. her publication to Bondar was also the advocate for the rights first neurologist to of Black Canadians, travel to space. including Viola Desmond. Bondar is a pioneer in She used her voice to space medicine bring change to Canada. research. Senator Anne Clare Emily Carr Cools Emily Carr was a In 1984, Anne Clare Cools Canadian painter and was the first Black author. Carr became a person to be named a leading figure in Canadian Senator. Canadian art, in the 20th century. Her works reflected her love of Mary Two-Axe First Nation's cultures Early and Canada's west coast. Mary Two-Axe was a Mohawk woman's rights activist. She fought many years for the Mary Ann Shadd rights of Indigenous Mary Ann Shadd was born women, in her quest to in 1823, to "free" slaves in change The Indian Act. the US. She eventually In 1985, as a result of moved to Windsor, where Two-Axe's work Bill C-31 she established one of the was passed. This bill saw first racially integrated indigenous women who schools. She became the had married non- first woman in Canada to indigenous men, regain publish a newspaper, their Indian status. Provincial Freeman. Violet King Kay Livingstone Violet King was a Kay Livingstone was a significant figure in journalist, social activist Canadian law. King was and leading actress. She the first Black Canadian was an organizer and to obtain a law degree in created the Canadian Alberta and the first Negro Women's Black woman to become Association. Her work led a lawyer in Canada to the establishment of the (1954). She spoke out National Congress of Black about racism and sexism Women of Canada. in the workplace. Justice Bertha Wilson Portia White Justice Bertha Wilson was Portia White was the first woman appointed Canada's first to the Supreme Court of significant Black Canada. She took part in concert singer. She many high-profile cases, toured internationally including a number of key and despite facing decisions that protected racism, achieved the rights of women and international acclaim minorities. and recognition. Jean Augustine Angela James Jean Augustine was the first Regarded as the female Black Member of "Wayne Gretzkey of Parliament. In 1995 she made women's hockey", a motion to recognize Angela James helped February as Black History lead Canada to 4 Month and it passed Women's World unanimously. Hockey Championships. She was one of the first women and the second The Famous Five Black person inducted The Famous Five refers to into the Hockey Hall of the group of five Canadian Fame. women, who worked tirelessly to bring about the Persons Case. The Persons Buffy Sainte-Marie Case was a constitutional ruling that recognized Buffy Sainte-Marie is an women as "persons", which award winning Indigenous meant that women could Canadian singer, hold political office and were songwriter, visual artist afforded many legal and social activist. She is a protections that already beloved Canadian, whose existed for men. The Famous work has been recognized Five included Nellie McClung, around the world. Emily Murphy, Henrietta Edwards, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby.

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