Wilson, Honourable Cairine Reay Mackay National Historic Person
Ottawa, Ontario
Wilson, Honourable Cairine Reay Mackay
© Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Library and Archives Canada / C-008408
Address :
192 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
2005-08-03
Life Date:
1885 to 1962
Other Name(s):
-
The Honourable Cairine Reay Mackay Wilson
(Designation Name)
-
The Honourable Cairine Wilson
(Other Name)
-
Cairine Wilson
(Other Name)
Research Report Number:
2004-037
Importance:
First woman to be appointed to the Senate in Canada, and as such embodies the conclusion of the Persons Case
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: 192 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario
On February 15, 1930, Cairine Wilson became the first woman appointed to the Senate of Canada, following the recognition in 1929 of women as persons under the British North America Act. This philanthropist with progressive ideas contributed to the advancement of women in the public sphere through her work both as Liberal Party organizer and as senator. As president of both the League of Nations Society in Canada and the Canadian National Committee on Refugees, Wilson fought anti-Semitism and tirelessly campaigned for the liberalization of immigration laws and for the admission of refugees to Canada.