ALT Meet the sculptor who immortalized Canada’s Famous Five Barbara Paterson

ALT It began over a cup of tea In August 1927, Alberta judge Emily Murphy invited fellow activists Henrietta Edwards, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby and Louise McKinney to her Edmonton home to sign a petition. The women, later dubbed “The Famous Five,” asked Canada’s Supreme Court to determine if women were “persons” under Canada’s constitution and could, therefore, be appointed to the Senate.

ALT Taking the Persons Case to the top Eight months later, the five male judges on the Supreme Court issued their ruling that, no, women were not legally “persons” and were not qualified for appointment to the Senate. Undaunted, the five women took their case across the ocean to Canada’s highest court of appeal at the time, located in London, England. On October 18, 1929, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned the Canadian court’s decision. “To those who ask why the word ‘person’ should include females, the obvious answer is why should it not.”

ALT In 1996, as the 70th anniversary of the ruling approached, the Famous 5 Foundation launched a sculpture competition to commemorate the legal victory. Eighteen artists were invited to submit proposals. Edmonton sculptor Barbara Paterson sketched a charmingly subversive scene of the five women gathered for a celebratory tea. She depicted Nellie McClung brandishing a newspaper proclaiming, “Women are Persons!” while the others toast the British court’s ruling. The jury and the public chose Mrs. Paterson’s design unanimously.

ALT The words “Happy Canada Day” over a photo of the Senate of Canada Building and fireworks.