Torkin Manes honours Persons Day

“The exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. And to those who would ask why the word ‘person’ should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?”

- Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain (October 18, 1929)

Lord Sankey’s statement was made in connection with his delivery of the historic decision of the Privy Council on October 18, 1929, to include women as part of the legal definition of “persons”, the legal challenge of which was brought by the “Famous Five”—Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards—who became catalysts for equality rights in Canada.

The day of the decision, October 18, would later become known as Persons Day, commemorating the advancement of gender equality in Canada.

For more information about the origins and significance of the day, please visit the Government of Canada website.