Governor General presents the Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case. They were established in 1979 by the government of Canada, with the support of former governor general, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer,

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, of Wikwemikong, Ontario, a well-known role model and advocate, was instrumental in founding the Ontario Native Women's Association, the Native Women's Association of Canada and Indigenous Women of the Americas. She fought a

Daphne E. Dumont, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, who was the first woman admitted to study law at any of the Oxford men's colleges, has led a distinguished career, devoting herself to organizations that promote equality for women. She is a f

Bev LeFrancois, of Oakville, Ontario, is a school teacher and mother of four who has been a passionate advocate for women's rights. She has advocated for women's rights in such areas as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms equality clause, the

Karen Messing, of Montréal, Quebec, is an academic, researcher, author and scientist. For over 30 years, she has worked to promote policies and practices that support working women. She chairs the Gender and Work Technical Committee of the Internatio

Mary Scott, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has a long history of advancing equality for women, with a particular focus on Aboriginal women. Mary has applied her skills in internet technology to teaching, relaying communications to networks and creating web p

Youth Award recipient Pauline Fogarty of Thunder Bay, Ontario, became involved in social activism at an early age. She designed a girls' collective, served with the Regional Multicultural Youth Centre and has worked on a wide array of issues, includi

“A mere 80 years ago—two generations, at most—we weren’t even persons under the law. It took five brave, determined and stubborn women to challenge the highest legal authorities in the land in order for us to finally be recognized as full-fledged per

Eighty years ago, in 1929, five women from Alberta won the judiciary battle that granted Canadian women the right to be recognized as persons. First row (from left): Pauline Fogarty, the Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women),