Brighton R.

A Complicated Hero, Nellie McClung And Her Place In Canadian History

Brighton R.
Ontario Independent Fair
Kingston, ON

Nellie McClung was born on October 20, 1873 in Chatsworth, Ontario. She was involved in many different activist causes including the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She was sometimes called “Calamity Nell” because of her presence and persistence in many activist causes.  

Canadian suffragists like Nellie had worked hard to get women the right to vote in Canadian elections.  However, women were still not able to be in the Senate because they were not considered "qualified persons” under section 24 of the British North America Act. Nellie joined forces with Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise Crummy McKinley, and Irene Parlby, to challenge this act. In 1929, the Privy Council of Great Britain sided with Nellie and the others, agreeing that women should be known as persons and be allowed to serve in the Senate.  

Nellie’s voice also played a vital role in the Alberta Sterilization Act. This was an act that granted permission to sterilize the “mental defectives” and other people. Nellie strongly believed in eugenics and was a strong influencer for this act. Between 1928 to 1972, 2000-4000 people were sterilized because of this act. Without Nellie’s popularity and support, this act might not have had the support that it did.  

Nellie McClung is not a good or bad person, just as history is neither black or white. We cannot ignore what Nellie did for women’s rights and that without her women might not be allowed to serve in the Senate. Even with that knowledge, we cannot just pretend that the Alberta Sterilization Act and her role in it did not happen. If we ignore her role then we would be silencing all those who have been hurt for generations to come. She is a perfect example of Canada’s unperfect past. Nellie McClung is a truly complicated hero. 

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

For secondary sources I used both books and websites. For primary sources I used Nellie’s books as well as newspaper articles. I wanted to go to a museum. Unfortunately, the Nellie McClung Museum is not in Ontario, so I emailed them and they sent me more primary sources. By seeing the newspaper articles it demonstrated that people idolized her and she was extremely popular. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get primary sources about her involvement in the Sterilization Act. I felt like because it was hard to find sources on the bad parts it showed that we as Canadians try to show only the good parts of our history.

What is the historical significance of your topic?

Nellie McClung’s historical significance is that she was very vocal in the fight for women's rights. Because of her, women can serve in the Senate. However, she was also involved in the Alberta Sterilization Act and helped it gain critical support. As a result of this, thousands of people were sterilized and suffered lasting trauma. Without her neither the good or bad may have happened. 

Why did you choose this topic? 

I chose this topic because I really like activism and women’s rights, so this was a topic that I would be interested in. Also, when I was researching I saw that Nellie was not perfect and wanted to tell the often untold part of her impact on Canada.