Champion of Women’s Rights Changed Course of Manitoba and Canadian History

Marcia McClung - granddaughter of Nellie McClung; Janis Filmon - founding Chair of the Nellie McClung Foundation; Greg Selinger - Premier of Manitoba

June 18, 2010 – After years of effort, a broad partnership of Manitobans today officially honoured the achievements of Nellie McClung, one of our province’s greatest Manitobans, whose courage and lifelong determination altered the course of Manitoba and Canadian history.

In unveiling the first new monument on the legislative grounds in twenty years, Premier Greg Selinger paid tribute to McClung for her prominent role in helping Manitoba women become the first in Canada to win the right to vote, in 1916.

“She first helped achieve great things for women in Manitoba,” said the Premier, “then moved onto the national stage as part of the Famous Five where she helped inspire change including the landmark decision, in 1929, that recognized Canadian women as ‘persons’ under the British North America Act. This is a great way to honour Nellie’s invaluable contributions in creating a Manitoba that continues to advocate for equality and celebrate diversity.”

The 3,500 pound monument, a 1.25 times life size bronze casting, is an artistic representation of Nellie McClung at the pinnacle of her career fighting for women’s rights as a prominent part of the Famous Five. It depicts Nellie seated on a verandah, quill pen in hand, as she and her colleagues draft wording for what will eventually lead to some of the most enlightened legislation in the world.

“Nellie McClung believed in women and in our collective ability to influence and achieve,” said Janice Filmon, founding Chair of the Nellie McClung Foundation. “We chose to memorialize her as part of the Famous Five because that is how she lived her life – believing that women, working together, could affect real change.”

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and Member of Parliament (Saint Boniface), said, “Nellie McClung was instrumental in the advancement of women’s rights in our country. The Government of Canada is a proud partner of this commemorative monument.

Communities across the country have great stories to tell, and our Government is encouraging them to be told. By supporting activities that celebrate our shared Canadian identity and our rich cultural and historical heritage, we hope to enhance local community life and get Canadians involved in their communities.”

Echoing these sentiments, Nellie McClung’s granddaughter, Marcia McClung of Toronto, spoke on behalf of the over two dozen members of the extended family who attended the celebration.

“Without question, Manitoba was the cradle of my Grandmother’s activism,” said McClung. “In Manitou, her beliefs took root and, in Winnipeg, they took flight. Not only did she consider this province her home but, had she had a choice, she never would have left. That’s how much she loved Manitoba.”

Students from across the province celebrated the many facets of Nellie McClung by delivering some of her most well known quotes. The contingent included students from grades 4, 6, 9 and 11 where McClung is taught as part of the social studies curricula. The group featured students Angeline Ramos, Victoria Chateauneuf, Danielle Lecuyer and Jaclyn Matchullis.

“I commend the Nellie McClung Foundation and their commitment to educating the public about her many achievements,” said Winnipeg Mayor, Sam Katz. “Under the leadership of Nellie McClung, women not only gained the right to vote but also were able to run for political office. Nellie truly is an inspiration to all.”

"Nellie McClung believed in women and in our collective ability to influence and achieve"

Uniquely, the McClung monument began with all-party support of a private member’s bill which passed in 2003. Co-sponsored by Charleswood MLA, Myrna Driedger, then critic for the Status of Women, the bill to establish the Nellie McClung Foundation was supported by all MLA’s who stepped forward in a spirit of non-partisanship to create a monument honouring this great Manitoban.

“As we stand here today,” said Janice Filmon, “it is our hope and belief that the legacy of Nellie McClung will continue to endure through this monument, through a catalogued archive and an area dedicated to teachers on www.ournellie.com. Each is intended to encourage us to better value the significant and hard-won rights Nellie and others helped gain for women across Manitoba and Canada.”

Quoting McClung, Filmon called on women and men to be inspired to learn more and do more based on Nellie’s call to action that is as relevant today as it was over 80 years ago when Nellie said: “Unless we all follow-up and press onward, the advantage will be lost. Yesterday’s successes will not do for today. Women must claim the place they have won.”