Persons DayMNO President Margaret Froh (centre) participates in a
panel in Ottawa discussing Persons Day on Oct. 18. She
was one of three participants, including Penny Collenette
(left), Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa, and
Shari Graydon (right), Founder of Informed Opinions. Click
here to view a larger version of this picture.

Submitted by MNO staff

Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) President Margaret Froh marked Persons Day on Oct. 18, by participating in a panel discussion at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Persons Day is the annual celebration of Oct. 18, 1929, when the historic decision to include women in the definition of “persons” was handed down by the country’s highest court of appeal. The decision gave women the right to be appointed to the Senate and allowed women to participate in public and political life.

President Froh was joined by Penny Collenette, Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa, and Shari Graydon, Founder of Informed Opinions.

The panel focused on the historic decision to include women in the legal definition of “persons” and that women’s equality is a matter of justice. The audience was also reminded that achieving a woman’s right to vote didn’t end in 1929 with the Persons Case.

The event was hosted by Informed Opinions and Famous 5 Ottawa, which hosts events honouring prominent women who lead. The foundation is named after the group of women who initially launched the Persons Case and became known as the Famous Five – Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards.

Posted: Oct. 26, 2018