Just for Girls
What Do You Mean
Women Couldn't Vote !?
Today, girls and women have lots of opportunities to do things thanks to many women before us who campaigned for and made gains. Women can go to university, work, earn money, own a house or business. They also can vote and run for elected office.
What would life be like today if no one had stood up for women's rights? By learning about the history of women in Canada, we can celebrate the achievements of women and learn how to work together to achieve full equality for all women in Canada.
Did you know?
- In 1917, only women who were British subjects and had close
relatives in the armed forces could vote in federal elections.
Even then, they could only vote on behalf of male relatives who
were overseas on military operations.
- "By 1918, some women were granted the right to vote and
to have a say in the political future of Canada. For
many other women, their race, ethnicity and religion still barred
them from the vote and, for them, the fight continued for almost
50 years. It wasn't until the introduction of the Universal
Right to Vote in 1963 and the addition to the Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms in 1985 that the right to vote could not
be denied in Canada on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin,
colour, religion, age, mental or physical disability or gender".
(Quoted from Women's History Month Website)
- In 1918, although some women won the right to vote in Canada,
the law did not come into effect until January 1, 1919.
- In Alberta, women had the right to vote beginning in 1916.
Here are some more resources about the History of voting and elections in Canada:
Women's
History Month Youth Fact Sheet
History of Voting in Canada
Sheet
Women's History Month 2003
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