Famous and Forgotten Faces

Agnes Macphail, Canada's First Woman MPFamous and Forgotten Faces ...

by Merna Forster, author, historian and creator of heroines.ca  www.heroines.ca

The tall young woman walked into the House of Commons to join 234 men.  "My devotion to Canada was so great, and my nerves so taut at the time, that tears sprang to my eyes."

Taunted as a "sharp-tongued spinster," Agnes Macphail was so miserable in her first month on the Hill that she lost twelve pounds.  But the determined country schoolteacher made an impressive debut as Canada's first female MP back in 1921, championing the causes she believed in over three decades in politics. As we mark International Women's Day on March 8, it's the perfect time to celebrate trailblazers like Agnes.

 When I was a kid in school I learned about many great men in history. Still remember things I memorized in grade school, starting with 1000 AD: Leif the Lucky, Viking. I actually loved HIStory. It wasn't until my university days that it suddenly dawned on me that I had rarely heard about any women. I needed HERstory.

 Once I became a "heroines sleuth" I began discovering amazing historical figures across the country, through my studies, work and travels. While exploring the remains of Dawson City and hiking the Chilkoot Trail I found Martha Black, the spunky gal who decided to trek to the goldfields even after her husband Will backed out at the last minute. One of the most renowned sourdoughs in the north, she operated a successful sawmill and became Canada's second female member of Parliament at sixty-nine.

Amid pioneer pilots, preachers, politicians, activists, artists, explorers and inventors, I even found  an adventurous female Viking –  Gudridur –  who visited Atlantic Canada about five centuries before Columbus landed in America. And knew I'd have been thrilled to learn about her in school -  along with the likes of Leif the Lucky.

Author Merna ForsterTo help popularize the stories of some of these impressive women , I wrote the books 100 Canadian Heroines: Famous and Forgotten Faces and 100 More Canadian Heroines. I hope people will be inspired as well as entertained by the stories of these incredible women who helped shape Canada. Role models all.

Blog post for Dancing With the Octopus

February 28, 2013

copyright Merna Forster