In 1992 the Canadian Government designated October as Women's History Month in Canada; a month to commemorate the long journey for women’s suffrage towards equality of rights and opportunities for all. It is meant as a time to reflect and learn about the women who fought for equal rights, and continue to advocate for women to exist in a world where they are safe and recognized and equally compensated for their efforts and potential.
The celebration falls on the month of October because it was October 18th, 1929 (also known as ‘Persons Day’) that the Canadian senate reversed the rule that women were not “persons” according to the British North America Act (now called the Constitution Act, 1867). The reversal of this ruling, the recognition that women were in fact people, enabled women to work for change in both the House of Commons and the Senate. Though this decision did not include all women (I.e., Indigenous women and women of Asian heritage and descent), it did mark critical progress in the advancement of gender equality in Canada.
The idea for this month of recognition began in Victoria B.C. by Lyn Gough, a historian and author of a book about pioneers in the Women's Temperance Movement, who led a campaign to encourage greater appreciation on the notable contributions of women to Canadian history. Other project leaders included, Katherine (Kay) Armstrong, a recipient of the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case and Kathy Blasco, a school teacher.
This year marks the 31st anniversary of Women’s History Month, and the theme is 'Through Her Lens: Celebrating the Diversity of Women,’ which ‘emphasizes the importance of recognizing the achievements and contributions of women from diverse backgrounds. It focuses on the unique perspectives, experiences, and challenges faced by Indigenous women; women from 2SLGBTQI+ communities; and newcomer, racialized, and migrant women.’
Please take some time to acknowledge the women and girls from our past and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada by having a look at these resources. The YWCA Metro Vancouver acknowledges Canada’s colonial history and the absence of diversity within its historical records and we hope to see improvements as Canada moves into a more inclusive future.
Do you want to recognize a woman in your life who is doing great work for their community or making positive change? Spread support and positivity for your fellow women by nominating them for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
