Canadian history · Drawing 26 of 43
Opening the Senate to women
October 18, 1929
In 1929, five women from Alberta won their court case. The court decided that the word “persons” in the law included women. From then on, women could become senators.
Look together
What are the two women wearing on their heads?
An idea to try
With the child, imagine a council that chooses activities for a group. Ask who should be able to take part and how everyone’s ideas could be heard.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
On October 18, 1929, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned a Supreme Court of Canada decision. It found that women were “qualified persons” who could be appointed to the Senate. This did not mean women had lacked every form of legal personhood before 1929, or that the decision removed all inequalities.
The five petitioners were from Alberta. Some also supported racist and eugenic ideas and policies; their contribution to women’s rights should not erase those injustices. The drawing shows imagined readers, rather than the Famous Five.
Sources and illustration notes (3)
Two imagined women and a girl share the news in a park, wearing 1929 clothing. The newspaper has no lettering. No portraits of the Famous Five or reproduction of their monument.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Canadian Heritage - Women Are Persons!The five Alberta women, October 18, 1929 decision and Senate appointments.
- Senate of Canada - Why the Persons Case MattersScope of the decision and acknowledgement of evolving historical perspectives.
- Famous 5 Foundation - Our roots and flawed beliefsAcknowledgement of racist and eugenic beliefs and actions among members.
Page prepared on November 7, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Canada’s Great Moments to Colour
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