Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women

The Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women tells the story of influential women in Canadian history. This replica of Nellie McClung’s home is used to share the stories of the Famous 5 group of Albertan women and other women in Canadian history. The centre features the story of 5 brave, persistent and victorious Albertan women  – Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Emily Murphy – who petitioned and won the right for women to be considered “Persons” under the British North America Act in 1929.

Celebrating over 100 years of the right to vote in Alberta!

In 1916, women were given the vote provincially in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

The Federal vote was awarded later in three stages: the Military Voters Act of 1917 allowed nurses and women in the armed services to vote; the wartime Elections Act, of the same year extended the vote to women who had husbands, sons or fathers serving overseas; and all women over 21 were allowed to vote as of January 1, 1919.

Women Become Persons

Alberta’s “Famous 5” were petitioners in the groundbreaking Person’s Case, and fought a legal and political battle to have women recognized as persons under the law. Led by judge Emily Murphy, the group included Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby. They brought the Persons Case before the Supreme Court of Canada in 1928, but it was turned down. Undaunted, they took it to the Britain’s Privy Council, Canada’s highest court at the time. On October 18, 1929 the Privy Council led by Lord Sankey, declared women are persons!