Cairine Wilson (1885 - 1962)

Cairine Reay Mackay Wilson was the first woman appointed to the Senate of Canada. Born in Montréal, she married Norman Wilson, the Member of Parliament for Russell, in 1909, and moved to Ottawa in 1918. Wilson helped found the Twentieth Century Liberal Association and the National Federation of Liberal Women of Canada, serving the latter as President from 1938 to 1948. In February 1930, just four months after the Persons Case legal victory made it possible, Wilson was appointed to the Senate. During the Second World War, she distinguished herself as an advocate for human rights, speaking out against Hitler and arranging to bring Jewish orphans to Canada. In 1949, Wilson became Canada's first woman delegate to the United Nations. In 1950, in recognition of her work with child refugees, she received the Cross of the Knight from France's Legion of Honour. Wilson was the first woman to become Deputy Speaker of the Senate in 1955.

“As women we wish to use our powers to redress existing evils and in every respect to promote legislation which will benefit the greatest number.”