Henrietta Edwards
Encyclopedia
Henrietta Muir Edwards was a Canadian women's rights activist and reformer.
She was born Henrietta Louise Muir in Montreal
. As a young woman, she espoused various feminist
causes, forming the Working Girls' Association in 1875 to provide vocational training for women and editing the journal Women's Work in Canada.
In 1893, with Lady Aberdeen, she founded the National Council of Women and the Victorian Order of Nurses
.
Edwards was one of "The Famous Five
" (also called "The Valiant Five"), who established that women were, indeed, persons and therefore entitled to sit in the Senate of Canada.
Among other honours, in October 2009, the Senate voted to name Edwards and the rest of the Five Canada's first "honorary senators."
She was born Henrietta Louise Muir in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. As a young woman, she espoused various feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
causes, forming the Working Girls' Association in 1875 to provide vocational training for women and editing the journal Women's Work in Canada.
In 1893, with Lady Aberdeen, she founded the National Council of Women and the Victorian Order of Nurses
Victorian Order of Nurses
The Victorian Order of Nurses is a non-profit charitable organization founded in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on January 29, 1897 created as a gift for Queen Victoria for the purposes of home care and social services. It is registered as a charity the Canada Revenue Agency, charity number...
.
The Famous Five (Canada)
The Famous Five or The Valiant Five were five Canadian women who asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question, "Does the word 'Persons' in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons?" in the case Edwards v...
" (also called "The Valiant Five"), who established that women were, indeed, persons and therefore entitled to sit in the Senate of Canada.
Among other honours, in October 2009, the Senate voted to name Edwards and the rest of the Five Canada's first "honorary senators."