1. Emily Murphy

3. Time Line 1868 – Born in Cookstown, Ontario on March 14th 1887 – Marries Arthur Murphy and has four daughters Madeliene, Kathleen, Evelyn, and Doris 1898 – Family moves to England. Emily begins to write under the pseudonym – Janey Canuck. 1901 – Moves to Swan River, Manitoba. Impressions of Janey Canuck is published. 1907 – Moves to Edmonton, Alberta and begins her social activism. 1910 – First woman appointed to the Edmonton Hospital Board. 1911 – The Dower Act of 1911 is passed and gives Alberta women property rights. 1916 – Alberta women get the vote. Becomes first female magistrate in the British Empire. 1922 – The Black Candle concerning the drug trade in Canada is published. 1927 – Enlists Nelly McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby to support a petition to the Supreme Court of Canada to include women in the definition of “persons”. 1929 – October 18th England’s Privy Council holds that women, pursuant to s. 24 of the British North America Act, 1867 (now called the Constitution Act, 1867), are eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate. 1933 – Dies in her sleep on October 27th at the age of 65.

5. “ We want women leaders today as never before. Leaders who are not afraid to be called names and who are willing to go out and fight. I think women can save civilization. Women are persons.” Emily Murphy - 1931

6. Emily Murphy Henrietta Muir Edwards Louise McKinney Irene Parlby Nellie McClung The Famous Five

7. In April 1928, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women were not “persons”.

8. The matter was taken to Canada’s highest court of appeal, the Privy Council in England. On October 18, 1929, it was ruled that under section 24 of The British North American Act , women were “persons” and thus able to sit in the Canadian Senate.

9. For more information on the “Persons” Case, visit www.famous5.org