Nada E.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Provincial Heritage Fair
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is a Canadian women's rights activist, jurist, and author. In 1916 she became the first female magistrate in Canada and the British Empire. In 1929 she succeeded in gaining a ruling that stated that women were legal persons under the British North American Act and could serve as members of congress and judges.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?
Learning that before 1929 women were not legal persons under the BNA act was very shocking. Also learning that women did not have the right to own anything was also very surprising.But the most interesting thing I learned is that a women herself changed all of this along with four other people and created the a group known as THE FAMOUS FIVE.
What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?
We can learn a lot from Emily Murphy, I admire the work and effort that she put in to give women their rights.But she also inspires me when she says "Nothing ever happens by chance ,everything is pushed from behind". This inspires me to work harder and to never give up , even if what I am doing seems almost impossible.Emily Murphy is a good example of a thorough and hard working Canadian
How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?
Today women can chose to work inside and /or outside the home they can chose what they want to wear and what they want to do and where they want to go . But back in the old days many women in Canada did not have these right. Emily Murphy has changed and influenced the lives of all Canadian women by fighting for the right to vote and for the right of ownership for women.She is my hero because I am a girl and soon-to -be women and now I have my rights and a vote thanks to Miss Murphy.