Famous 5 Challenge

88 years ago today, a landmark women's rights case gave women in Canada status as "persons" under the law. This case was spearheaded by five prominent women's rights activists, Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby. They became known as the "Famous Five" due to their work advancing women's causes.

The "persons" case began when Emily Murphy's 1916 appointment as the first female magistrate in Canada was challenged on the basis that women were not considered "persons" under the British or Canadian law at the time. The Alberta Supreme Court upheld Emily's appointment as a magistrate, but the experience inspired her to embark on a journey to clarify the legal status of women in Canada.

Emily Murphy's supporters petitioned to have her named to the Senate, but her appointment was declined by Prime Minister Robert Borden on the basis that women were not considered "persons" under the British North America Act of 1867.

The Famous Five appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1927 for clarification on the status of women as "persons". When the Supreme Court ruled against them, they appealed to a higher authority, the Privy Council. On October 18, 1929, the Privy Council ruled that women were "persons", opening the door for them to hold public office, own property, and access countless other rights that had previously belonged only to men.

To learn more about the Famous Five, the "Persons Case", and what it meant for women's rights in Canada, check out the Alberta Council "Famous Five Challenge" and supplementary activities.

For an entertaining presentation on the Famous Five from a girl's perspective, check out this video by one of our Hay River members, a winner in the 2016 Government of Canada's Young Citizen's competition.