Canadian Women in History

Some Women in Canadian History

That You Probably Never Heard Of

To say that history has not been kind to Canadian women would be difficult, in light of the fact that we are rarely even mentioned.

Our history books are filled to overflowing with the names of men from European background, giving the impression that they alone contributed to the development of our country; while the little women tended to their needlework and the natives were home pounding pemmican; when they weren't raiding the villages of the innocent European settlers.

For a woman to make it into the annals of history, they had to walk for miles to warn of a military threat, while the male leaders got medals for their bravery. Or fight off an enemy attack to earn the title of Madame, which would then obliterate their own names in favour of their husband's.

As a culture who loves to record 'firsts', there was a mad scramble to find as many as possible; most bordering on the ridiculous. Louis Hebert, the first Canadian farmer, despite that the fact the Huron women and others had large fields of vegetables that they traded to keep the early settlements alive, and that Canadians had been engaged in agriculture for more than 5,000 years!

Therefore, this portion of the site is designed to introduce you to a few of the woman who also made a difference, and deserve their place in the record books. Women who actually did make it into the history books, even if only given an honourable mention; can be found here.

Marie-Josephe Angelique

Marie Membertou

Alicia Annabella Sandys

Helen Shaw

Mary Shadd Cary

Mary Mulherin

Mary Sitts

Angelique De Favre

Bridget O'Hara