It was just 89 years ago today that women were declared B次元官网网址減ersonsB次元官网网址� under the law. Five suffragettes, known as the Famous Five, won the landmark Persons case on Oct. 18, 1929, which declared women B次元官网网址減ersonsB次元官网网址� and made them eligible for appointment to the Senate. The day has since been celebrated nationally as Persons Day.

B次元官网网址淭hat this occurred is a testament to the perseverance and advocacy of five Canadian women: Emily Murphy, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby, Nellie McClung and Henrietta Muir Edwards,B次元官网网址� said Sonia Furstenau, B.C. Green spokesperson for gender equality. B次元官网网址淎lthough this did not enshrine universal legal rights for all [it was not until 1960, for instance, that suffrage was extended to Indigenous people] it was a significant step towards achieving legal equality in Canada.B次元官网网址�

On this day in 1929, Canadian women were finally recognized as B次元官网网址減ersonsB次元官网网址� under the law. Today, we pay tribute to the Famous Five, whose fight for equality helped women take their rightful place in our democracy:

B次元官网网址� Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau)

Women became eligible to vote federally in 1918, excluding some immigrant groups and Indigenous peoples. In 1921, Agnes MacPhail was elected as the first woman to the House of Commons, but legally, a narrow interpretation of B次元官网网址減ersonsB次元官网网址� had kept women from the Senate. That changed in 1929 with the historic Persons case. Four months later, Cairine Reay Wilson became the first female senator. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until 1960 that all women obtained federal voting rights in Canada.

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In a statement release, Premier John Horgan called the five women B次元官网网址減ioneers of social changeB次元官网网址� and acknowledged that work still needs to be done to ensure equality for women, girls, gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ people, as well as Indigenous peoples, immigrants and people of colour.

: In 1929, women were included in the legal definition of "persons" in 馃嚚馃嚘 B次元官网网址� a move towards a more equal society.

B次元官网网址� Human Rights Canada (@CdnHumanRights)

B次元官网网址淎round the world legal inequality and disproportionate levels of violence and poverty are faced by women, girls, gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ people. This is why we must carry forward the momentum of Persons Day and continue to address inequality,B次元官网网址� Furstenau said.