Ellen Fairclough (1905 - 2004)

The Honourable Ellen Fairclough was one of Canada's most prominent female politicians. A long-time Member of Parliament and the first woman to serve in the federal Cabinet, she averaged 150 speeches a year, focusing on issues such as housing, income tax, unemployment insurance, and the status of women. An outspoken and tireless advocate for gender equality in Canada, Fairclough introduced private members' bills for equal pay for work of equal value. Throughout her political career, she promoted equality for Canadian women and encouraged their participation in all levels of politics. She received numerous honours and awards including Officer of the Order of Canada and a Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

“Although I never started out to be the ‘first’ anything, it turned out that I was the first woman in many areas of public life.”