Be kind to women for they make up half the population and are the mothers of the other half. – author unknown

Today I joined 1,000 other people in Winnipeg at the19^th annual LEAF (Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund) Persons Day Breakfast, a fundraising and awareness-raising event to celebrate the landmark “Persons Case,” won on October 18, 1929.

What is “The Persons Case”? Well, “way back” in Canadian history – the early 1920s – the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women could not be appointed to the Senate because legally they were not deemed to be “persons.” Five gutsy prairie women took issue with this, appealed the decision to the Privy Council and won.

That was 1929, a mere 80 years ago, a split second in the span of history, but a ground-breaking achievement in enabling women to participate in Canadian public life. However, the status was not declared for all and the struggle for equality continued… and continues.

Imagine living in a country (or world) where for women to be seen, treated and respected as “persons” it has to be legislated rather than a given, inherent right and, I might add, an obvious fact of life.

Ask yourself this (I’m talking to you, boys) who among us was not born of a woman? And if women were not “persons” what exactly would the wee creatures (male and female) that they gave birth to be?

Well, happily, in 1929 in Canada a few “non-persons” helped the persons come to their senses. Sadly, this is still not the case for women in all countries.

There is much to do in “The Never Ending Equality Journey,” as noted by the guest speakers at this morning’s LEAF event. Law professor and human rights activist Kathleen E. Mahoney spoke of past successes in the advancement of women’s legal rights, as well as the progress made for the rights of First Nations people, specifically on the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Phil Fontaine, Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, then spoke of his own experience in Residential Schools and their tragic consequences of abuse, poverty and despair, and the challenges ahead of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established to provide healing to First Nations communities and all Canadians.

On days like this, when thousands of “persons” across Canada celebrate those working for a more equitable world, we are acutely reminded that when we support women’s rights, we support human rights.

Happy Persons Day.

LEAF Manitoba is part of the national LEAF organization founded in 1985 to advance equality for women and girls in Canada through litigation, law reform and public education. For more information call (204) 453-1379 or email.