Remembering The Famous 5 Public Recognition Reading: "It is Up to Us!"

It is good to live in these first days when the foundations of things are being laid, to be able, now and then, to place a stone or carry the mortar to set it good and true.

—Emily Murphy

The Canada of today owes much to pioneers like the Famous 5 who dedicated their lives to serving the public in an attempt to better the collective good. In the early 20th century, many women in the young Dominion led lives of quiet desperation, until encouraged to gather together and agitate for change.

Women leaders, like the Famous 5, spoke out about women's position in society and culture—in marriage, in work, and before the law. They denounced the plight of women and their treatment as second-class citizens, drew women together, and founded local organizations that could build momentum for change.

As a result of the Famous 5’s efforts over decades, women enjoy rights they were not accorded only a short time ago. Their combined achievements comprise an impressive legacy that continues to affect Canadian culture and society even still.