Louise (nee Crummy) McKinney was the first woman sworn into the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada and the first woman elected to a legislature in Canada and in the British Empire. McKinney served this position from 1917 to 1921 sitting with the Non-Partisan League caucus in opposition. McKinney was one of "The Famous Five" (Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Irene Parlby) who fought to have women recognized as "persons" under the Canadian law, with the right to vote in elections. On August 27, 1927, ‘the five' petitioned the federal government to refer the issue of the eligibility of women to be senators to the Supreme Court of Canada. (Where they lost unanimously) and to the British Privy Council in 1929 (where they won!). The "Persons case" established that Canadian women were eligible to be appointed senators and that Canadian women had the same rights as Canadian men with respect to positions of political power. The "Persons Case" was later recognized as an Historic Event in 1997. In October 2009, the Senate voted to name Henrietta and the rest of the Famous Five, Canada's first "honorary senators."
Louise (nee Crummy) McKinney was the first woman sworn into the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada and the first woman elected to a legislature in Canada and in the British Empire. McKinney served this position from 1917 to 1921 sitting with the Non-Partisan League caucus in opposition. McKinney was one of "The Famous Five" (Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Irene Parlby) who fought to have women recognized as "persons" under the Canadian law, with the right to vote in elections. On August 27, 1927, ‘the five' petitioned the federal government to refer the issue of the eligibility of women to be senators to the Supreme Court of Canada. (Where they lost unanimously) and to the British Privy Council in 1929 (where they won!). The "Persons case" established that Canadian women were eligible to be appointed senators and that Canadian women had the same rights as Canadian men with respect to positions of political power. The "Persons Case" was later recognized as an Historic Event in 1997. In October 2009, the Senate voted to name Henrietta and the rest of the Famous Five, Canada's first "honorary senators."
Bio by: Linda
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