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First Women's Rights Convention
The world's first women's rights convention was held in New York. A Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was signed by 68 women and 42 men, and set the agenda for the impending women's rights movement. -
The Married Women's Property Act
The Married Women's Property Act makes a wife responsible for her own property and gives her the right to her own wage earnings, free from her husband's control. Prior to this, all of a woman's property would become her husbands upon entering into marriage. -
Military Voter's Act
The Military Voter's Act gave women in the services, women with close relatives in the services, and nurses in the armed forces the right to vote. This lasted until the end of the war. -
Canadian Olympic Team
Canada's Olympic team includes women for the first time. Canada's first women's Olympic team known as the "Matchless Six" was made up of Ethel Smith, Jean Thompson, Bobbie Rosenfeld, Myrtle Cook, Ethel Cartherwood, and Jane Bell. Although there were many controversies related to their games, together they won multiple medals for Canada. -
The Persons Case
When it was decided by The Supreme Court of Canada that women were not 'persons' who could hold office as Canadian senators, five Canadian women known as the Famous Five sought to have women legally considered as persons so that they could be appointed to the senate. They appealed to the British Privy Council who ultimately decided that women can be eligable to run for public office. -
First Woman to be Appointed Colonel in the Canadian Army
Nurse Elizabeth Smellie was a graduate of Johns Hopkins Training School for Nurses, and joined the Canadian Army Nursing Services in WW1. She was the first women to be appointed Colonel in the Canadian Army, and became head of the Canadian Army Nursing Corps. -
The Female Employees Equal Pay Act
The federal government created a policy that entitled women to be paid the same wages as men for similar work. It became against the law for someone to be discriminated against in wages because of their sex. -
Royal Commission on the Status of Women
The Royal Commission on the Status of Women was commenced by Lester B. Pearson. Its main purpose was to view the status of women in Canada and to ensure that women were being given equal oppertunity to men in Canadian society. -
Divorce Act
The federal divorce law was changed to allow women to be able to get a divorce on the same grounds as men. Prior to this, women could only divorce on ground of adultry. -
The Birth Control Pill Becomes Legal
The birth control pill was approved in 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration, however it was not legalized until 1969. This gave women complete control over avoiding an unwanted pregnancy and gave them a new method of birth control.
