Christy, the final post of “Nellie week” looks and reads wonderfully!
A bazillion thanks and hugs to Christy Birmingham, who guided us through this amazing project. I… we hope you have enjoyed “Nellie week” even a fraction as much as we have. That would mean you had a blast. Thank you for joining us on our journey!
Welcome to the final installment of Nellie McClung week! This post is written by both Resa and I. As Resa explained in her wonderful post two days ago, Nellie was pivotal in Manitoba being the first Canadian province to grant women the right to vote. The momentous date was January 28, 1916. After this important day, Nellie continued to fight for women’s right to vote in other provinces.
When Were Women Granted the Right to Vote in Other Canadian Provinces?
On March 14, 1916, just two months after Manitoba amended its legislation, women in Saskatchewan gained the legal right to vote. One month later (April 19), Alberta followed suit. The following year, on April 5, 1917, British Columbia changed its laws about women’s right to vote. Just one week…
On January 28, 1914, Nellie McClung starred as Manitoba’s suspender snapping and cigar smoking Premier, in a mock parliament at the Walker Theater in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The previous day, January 27, 1914, Nellie and many women of the Political Equality League met with Premier Roblin and the legislative body to request the vote for women.
This prompted a guerilla “mock parliament” wherein women had the vote, but not men. It was added to that night’s showing of How They Won The Vote“, a play originally produced in London. It was adapted to fit Winnipeg in 1914.
Artist: Mandy van Lueewen
Vis-a-vis this amazing mural in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Christyand I take a look at the mock parliament that changed women’s voting rights of yesterday into women’s voting rights of today, in Canada.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
It featured: Nellie as a female Premier Roblin, and her daughter Florence, as a parliamentary page. As well, it showcased 2 other mother and daughter pairs.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
There was Harriet Walker (Minister of Public Works) and her daughter Ruth (a parliamentary page). I am not sure which image is Mrs. Walker.Mrs. Francis Graham, below, portrayed Speaker of the House. Her daughter, Miss Alma Graham, was a Clerk.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
The following text does not necessarily reflect the ensuing photographs. Dr. Mary Crawford played the Minister of Health and Education…
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
… Miss Kenneth Haig { Attorney General), Mrs. Lipsett-Skinner (Minister of Agriculture), Miss Francis Beynon (Leader of the Opposition) and Dorothy Milne.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
Mrs. Lipsett-Skinner, pleasantly satirical, rejected a bill introducing labor-saving devices. The thought was, if men had spare time on their hands, they could start educating themselves. Next thing, they’d be petitioning for the vote.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
Many men were in support of the Suffrage movement, and took part in the play. A delegation of men, headed by R.C. Skinner, came seeking suffrage privileges for the male sex. They had a slogan “We have the brains. Why not let us vote?”
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
The men’s case was ardently presented. The bill was effectively thwarted by Premier McClung, in the same vein (but with comedic overtone) that she and the Women’s Equality League had been dissed the day before.
The audience howled in delight.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen
To read the transcripts of the awesome “Winnipeg Free Press” review of that hilarious and historic night’s play about a mock parliament published on January 29, 1914 go to:
The Nellie McClung Foundation – Primary Sources Page – “Women Score in Drama and Debate” (4th article down) Apologies for the indirect link.
Although Nellie and her family had moved to Edmonton, she returned to Manitoba to campaign for Liberal leader T. C. Norris in the August 1915 election. He defeated Premier Roblin. On January 28, 1916 Norris delivered his promise, granting full suffrage to the women of Manitoba.
The third and final installment of “Nellie Week” will be posted on When Women Inspire in 2 days, on December 16.
Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen – Photo & adjustment by Resa
Nellie McClung (1873-1951) was a suffragist, political and social activist, feminist, author, and, on a personal note, she means a lot to Resa and I (Resa wrote about Canadian women’s right to vote in her #GreenWhiteViolet guest post, which included mention of Nellie).
Nellie worked tirelessly toward securing women’s rights in Canada, and for that we commend her. To celebrate Nellie, Resa and I have created “Nellie week,” of which this is the first of three posts. We will unveil the collaboration in three parts at each of our blogs to fully give this amazing lady the spotlight she deserves. Today is post number one.
As for why we are doing this project now, a major source of inspiration was the mural display that Resa attended in Winnipeg that honored Nellie and her Suffragettes, with…
Mural on Dr. Emily Stowe Way (formerly Elizabeth Street) in Toronto. Photo © Resa McConaghy – Artist: Jacqueline Comrie Garrido. 
Mural of Nelly McClung in Winnipeg. Photo © Resa McConaghy – Artist: Mandy van Leeuwen. 
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