Persons
Aberdeen, Lady Ishbel Gordon (1857-1939)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
Social reformer, wife of Governor General and founder of the National Council of Women and the Victorian Order of Nurses.
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Abbott, Maude Elizabeth (1869-1940)
Quebec
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Science
Prominent pioneer in medicine and research on heart disease.
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Adams, Mary Electa (1823-1898)
New Brunswick
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Well-being
At the forefront of reforms to the traditional approach to women's education in Canada.
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Albani, Emma Lajeunesse Gye (1846-1930)
Quebec
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Internationally renowned opera soprano.
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Allison, Susan Louisa Moir (1845-1937)
British Columbia
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and the Arts
Earliest woman memoirist of pioneer life in interior British Columbia;
recorded stories and legends of the Similkameen and Okanagan First
Nations
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Archibald, Edith Jessie (1854-1936)
Nova Scotia
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Key figure in the Nova Scotia women’s suffrage campaign.
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Bibb, Mary (1820-1877) and Henry
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
Influenced the development of the African Canadian community through their newspaper, “Voice of the Fugitive”.
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Black, Martha Louise (1866-1957)
Yukon
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes
Second women elected as member of Parliament (1935), prominent Yukon figure.
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Blackburn, Lucie and Thornton
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Legendary African American escapees from slavery who established the first cab company in Toronto
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Blewett, Jean McKishnie (1862-1934)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Popular early 20th century poet and journalist.
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Bourgeoys, Marguerite (1620-1700)
Quebec
Building Social and Community Life/Religious Institutions
Founder of Congrégation de Notre-Dame (1658), first Canadian religious community.
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Brant, Molly (Tekonwatonti) (1736-1796)
Ontario
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes
Loyalist Six Nations leader.
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Brooks, Harriet (1876-1933)
Quebec
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Science
Pioneer in the study of radioactivity; prominent among women who,
despite considerable institutional and social barriers, endeavoured to
carve out careers in scientific research
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Carr, Emily (1871-1945)
British Columbia
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Noted painter of British Columbia forest and Aboriginal peoples of Northwest coast and author.
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Charlton, Margaret Ridley (1858-1931)
Quebec
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Pioneer medical librarian and co-founder of the Medical Library Association, 1898.
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Crawford, Isabella Valancy (1850-1887)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Poet and writer.
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De la Roche, Mazo (1879-1961)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Writer, best known for novels of the Whiteoak family of Jalna.
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Demasduit (1796-1820)
Newfoundland
Peopling the Land/Canada’s Earliest Inhabitants; Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
One of the last survivors of the Beothuk.
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Derick, Carrie Matilda (1862-1941)
Quebec
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Science
The first woman to be appointed to a full professorship in Canada; made
an outstanding contribution to science in both the academic and popular
spheres
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Dorval, Onésime (1843-1932)
Saskatchewan
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
Métis teacher at Red River Settlement (1877-80) and Battleford, Saskatchewan (1880-96).
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Duley, Margaret Iris (1894-1968)
Newfoundland
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
First Newfoundland novelist to attain worldwide recognition.
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Edwards, Henrietta Muir (1849-1931)
Alberta
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes; Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Social and legislative reformer, member of Famous Five who spearheaded Persons Case.
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Freiman, Lillian Bilsky (1885-1940)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Community Organizations/Education and Social Well-Being
Gifted organizer and philanthropist who worked to improve the health
and welfare of her fellow citizens, especially those within the Jewish
Diaspora
Gaboury, Marie-Anne (1780-1875)
Manitoba
Peopling the Land/Migration and Immigration; Developing Economies/Trade and Commerce
Pioneer, first White women to settle in the west (1806); grandmother of Louis Riel and wife of Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière.
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Gérin-Lajoie, Marie Lacoste (1867-1945)
Quebec
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements; Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes
Suffragist and activist for women’s rights in Quebec.
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Hart, Julia Catherine (Beckwith) (1796-1867)
New Brunswick
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Author of “St. Ursula’s Convent” (1824), first published novel by Native-born Canadian.
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Hind, E. Cora (1861-1942)
Manitoba
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements; Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes
Agricultural expert, journalist and suffrage leader.
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Hoodless, Adelaide Hunter (1857-1910)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being Community
Led campaign to include domestic science in educational curriculum,
active in Women’s Institutes, YWCA and National Council of Women.
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Ipirvik and Taqulittuq (fl. 1860-1880)
Nunavut
Peopling the Land/Migration and Immigration
Inuit couple from Baffin Island who assisted Arctic expeditions in 1860s and 1870s.
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Johnson, Pauline E. (Tekahionwake) (1861-1913)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Poet and writer of British-Mohawk descent, she gave speaking tours (1892-1910) and spoke for Aboriginal peoples.
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La8inonkie, Marguerite Vincent (1783-1865)
Quebec
Peopling the Land; Developing Economies; Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and the Arts
Noted artisan who fostered the development of a handicraft industry that made Huron crafts famous in the 19th century
LeVasseur, Dr. Irma (1877-1964)
Quebec
Building Social and Community Life/Community Organizations
Considered a pioneer in the field of paediatrics in Canada; first woman
doctor to be officially authorized in the province of Quebec
Lockhart, Grace Annie (1855-1916)
New Brunswick
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
First woman graduate of Mount Allison University (1875), first woman to receive a university degree in the British Empire.
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Macdonald, Major Margaret C. (1873-1948)
Nova Scotia
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being; Governing Canada/Military and Defence
Matron-in-Chief of the Canadian nursing service during First World War.
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MacGill, Elizabeth Muriel Gregory “Elsie” (1905-1980)
Ontario
Developing Economies/Technology and Engineering; Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Made significant contributions to the field of aeronautical engineering and to the promotion of Canadian women's equality
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MacGill, Helen Gregory (1864-1947)
British Columbia
Governing Canada/Security and Law
Juvenile court judge; internationally acknowledged expert, and advocate of women’s suffrage and legal reforms.
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MacMurchy, Helen (1862-1953)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
Physician and leading advocate of maternal and infant health reforms in Canada in the early 20th century.
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Macphail, Agnes Campbell (1890-1954)
Ontario
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes; Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
First woman elected to the House of Commons (1921); active in prison reform.
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Mance, Jeanne (1606-1673)
Quebec
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
Founder of l’Hôtel-Dieu in Montréal. Canada’s first lay nurse renowned for her care under extreme conditions.
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McClung, Nellie (1873-1951)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts, Building
Social and Community Life/Social Movements, Governing Canada/Politics
and Political Processes
Writer, suffrage leader, reformer, politician and first woman member of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (1936-42).
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McKinney, Louise (1868-1931)
Alberta
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements; Expressing
Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and the Arts; Governing
Canada/Politics and Political Processes
First woman member of the Legislative Assembly in the British Empire,
Member of the Famous Five who spearheaded the Persons Case.
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McNaughton, Violet Clara (1879-1968)
Saskatchewan
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being/Social Movements
Organized the Women Grain Growers, promoted women’s suffrage and publicly funded medical care programs.
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Montgomery, Lucy Maud (1874-1942)
Prince Edward Island
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Novelist, wrote world-renowned Anne of Green Gables books, set in Prince Edward Island.
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Moodie, Susanna (1803-1885)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Leading Ontario author in 1850s, wrote Roughing it in the Bush.
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Murphy, Emily Ferguson ‘Janey Canuck’ (1868-1933)
Alberta
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes/Security and Law; Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Suffragist, first woman judge in British Commonwealth, and member of Famous Five who spearheaded the Persons Case.
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Newton, Margaret (1887-1971)
Manitoba
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Science
Scientific researcher who furthered knowledge of rust diseases and
wheat stem rust, leading to the development of rust resistant grains.
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Parlby, Mary Irene (1868-1965)
Alberta
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes
Legislator and member of Famous Five who spearheaded the Persons Case.
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Pope, Georgina Fane (1862-1938)
Prince Edward Island
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being; Governing Canada/Military and Defence
Canada’s first nursing matron of the Army Medical Corps (1908).
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Richardson, Harriet Taber (d1951)
Nova Scotia
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts; Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
Heritage activist who proposed the reconstruction of the Port Royal Habitation.
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Rose, Marie Marguerite (1717-1757)
Nova Scotia
Developing Economies/Trade and Commerce
African Canadian woman who, following her emancipation from slavery,
became a tavern keeper and member of the retail business group of a
colony in New France
Rosenfeld, Fanny (1903-1969)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural life/Sports and Leisure
Track and field star, silver medalist at 1928 Olympics games, and female athlete of the half-century (1900-1950).
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Saint-Jean, Idola (1880-1945)
Quebec
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes/Security and Law
Suffrage leader in Quebec who advocated reform of the Civil Code in the 1920s and 1930s.
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Saint Marie-Marguerite D’Youville (1701-1771)
Quebec
Building Social and Community Life/Religious Institutions
Founder of the Sisters of Charity (1737); Sainthood 1990.
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Saunders, Margaret Marshall (1861-1947)
Nova Scotia
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Popular author of children’s books.
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Shanawdithit (1801-1829)
Newfoundland
Peopling the Land/Canada’s Earliest Inhabitants; Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Last of the Beothuk.
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Secord, Laura Ingersoll (1775-1868)
Ontario
Governing Canada/Military and Defence
Renowned hero of the War of 1812.
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Shadd, Mary Anne (1823-1893)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements; Developing Economies/Technology and Engineering
Newspaper editor and leader of Black fugitive movement.
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Smith, Mary Ellen Spear (1863-1933)
British Columbia
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes; Building Social and Community Life/Social Movements
An accomplished politician in the immediate post-suffrage era who
represented newly enfranchised women and brought their concerns into
the political forum
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Southcott, Mary Meagre (1862-1943)
Newfoundland
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being
Leader in nursing education and professionalization in Newfoundland.
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Stowe, Emily (1831-1903)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being/Social Movements
First woman to practise medicine in Canada, suffrage leader and organizer of Women’s Medical College.
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Thanadelthur (d.1717)
Manitoba
Developing Economies/Trade and Commerce
Aboriginal woman created a bridge between two cultures, played an
important role in the English fur trade in the Canadian North in early
18th century.
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Thompson, Charlotte Small (1785-1857)
Alberta
Peopling the Land/Settlement; Developing Economies/Trade and Commerce
Travelled thousands of kilometres across the lands and waterways of
North America, facilitating the mapping of immense areas of what was to
become Canada and the United States
Traill, Catherine Parr (1802-1899)
Ontario
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Writer and naturalist, famous for her work, The Backwoods of Canada (1836).
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Travers, Mary ‘La Bolduc’ (1894-1941)
Quebec
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Singer and songwriter who had a tremendous impact on Quebec popular culture.
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Trout, Jenny (1841-1921)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Education and Social Well-being/Social Movements
First female licenced doctor in Canada, supporter of women’s medical education.
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Tubman, Harriet (1820-1913)
Ontario
Building Social and Community Life/Community Organizations/Social Movements
Courageously led many refugees from American slavery to safety; became
the public face of the Underground Railroad in British North America
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Verchères, Madeleine De (1678-1747)
Quebec
Governing Canada/Military and Defence
Hero who defended the family fort in Verchères against attacking Iroquois in 1692.
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Watt, Margaret ‘Madge’ Robertson (1868-1948)
British Columbia
Building Social and Community Life/Community Organizations/Education and Social Well-Being
Helped to organize Women’s Institutes in British Columbia and Britain;
key driving force in the foundation of the Associated Country Women of
the World (ACWW) in 1933, a major international rural women’s
organization
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White, Portia (1911-1968)
Nova Scotia
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life/Learning and Arts
Acclaimed vocalist from Black Nova-Scotian community.
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Wilson, Honourable Cairine Reay Mackay (1885-1962)
Ontario
Governing Canada/Politics and Political Processes/Security and
Law/Canada and the World; Peopling the Land/Migration and Immigration
The first woman to be appointed to the Senate in Canada following the
conclusion of the Persons case in 1929; contributed to the advancement
of women in the public sphere
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Wilson, Mona Gordon (1894-1981)
Prince Edward Island
Building Social and Community Life; Governing Canada
Established and expanded public health nursing services on Prince
Edward Island; won accolades for her work with the Red Cross during the
First and Second World Wars