One of the most
famous cases in
Canadian legal history, brought forward by five
Alberta women -- Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards, and Louise McKinney.
The Supreme Court of Canada was asked to declare that women were persons under the meaning of the British North America Act and therefore eligible to be appointed to the Senate. Unfortunately, the judges did not believe that women were persons under the Act.
After consultation, and with the full backing of the
government of Alberta, the five appealed to the British Privy Council, then Canada's highest court of appeal. On October 18, 1929, the Privy Council declared that women are indeed persons. Today, we celebrate Person's Day and since 1979, several women each year are awarded person's day medals.