Artifact #6: Woman's Petition and Pass to Vote

Citation:

Archives of Manitoba, Tied petition rolls contained 39,584 signatures, Presentation of petition by Political Equality League for enfranchisement of women, 23 December 1915. www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/suffrage.

Reg Innell, Toronto Star Photo Archive

Label: 

The artifacts I have chosen are to represent this massive victory for women and their rights. The petitions were petitions in favor of women having the right to vote in Manitoba. This was a combined effort of women and men to grant women the rights they deserved. These petitions became a huge discussion in Canada about the rights women deserved. With the dedication and work that Canadian women put into Suffrage during the First World War, The federal government decided that these hardworking efforts came with the right to vote. It's important to remember on 24 May 1918, female citizens, not including Women of color or Indigenous exclusions, aged 21 and over became eligible to vote in federal elections. This was a huge win for women all over Canada. Finally came the right to democracy and the right to be seen as an equal to men. The right to vote gave women the right to jobs, benefits, and independence. These factors came a bit after, but many women finally felt free, as you can see in the second artifact of a young woman smiling with joy to vote for the first time. May 24th was a revolutionary day for women in Canada, but the fight for rights and equality continues today.

Bibliography:

Strong-Boag, Veronica. “Women’s Suffrage in Canada.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 21 June 2016, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/suffrage.