October 18 is Persons Day

From 1867 until 1929, women in Canada were not considered “persons” under the law. On this day in 1929, thanks to the relentless advocacy of the Famous Five – Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards – Canada’s highest court of appeal concluded that the word ‘Person’ in section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, did, in fact, include women. The Persons Case verdict was a major victory for the rights of some women to participate in politics and public life. However, not all women were included in this historic verdict, particularly Indigenous women and women of Asian descent. The fight for equality, equity and justice for all members of our society continues even today, and we have lot more work to do.

Watch a Heritage Minute on Emily Murphy and the Persons Case here: https://bit.ly/3pdhIDr

#PersonsDay  #PersonsCase