Tuesday, October 18 is National Persons Day – a day to celebrate gender equality. The Government of Prince Edward Island, through the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat, encourages all Islanders to acknowledge this important day.
Persons Day is celebrated annually in recognition of the Persons Case, a historical landmark in the fight for equality by Canadian women. In 1929, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Nellie McClung (the “Famous Five”) won the right for women to be legally recognized as persons and, therefore, eligible to sit in the Senate.
“Canadians are indebted to the Famous Five. Without these women, our political landscape and collective history would look much different,” said Michelle Harris-Genge, Director of the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat. “We also need to take note of female trailblazers from Prince Edward Island who have made significant contributions to our political landscape.”
Persons Day is celebrated during October which is Women’s History Month across Canada. Women’s History Month provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about the important contributions of women and girls to our society – and to the quality of our lives today. This year’s national theme is “Women in the Canadian Military Forces: A Proud Legacy.”
For more information, visit www.gov.pe.ca/sss and click on the “Interministerial Women’s Secretariat” heading on the left-hand side of the page, or contact Harris-Genge at (902) 368-5557.