City of North Battleford Historic Archives timeline showing the progression of Canadian women gaining rights:
1878 - For the first time in federal elections, votes cast in private. Only men could vote.
1884 - First votes for women, in Ontario municipal elections. Ballots given to widows and spinsters.
1907 - The Married Woman's Property Act legislated in Saskatchewan.
1913 - The Professional Act was amended to allow women to practise law.
1915 - The Municipal and Town Acts were amended to grant married women property owners the privilege of voting in civic elections. Office holding, however, was limited to males.
1916 - March 16, Saskatchewan women won the right to vote, after four years of petitioning. That same year, Manitoba and Alberta women won franchise.
1919 -The Naturalization Act: a British subject who married an "Alien" was permitted to retain her citizenship. Previously the wife automatically took her husband's nationality and lost her citizenship rights.
1920 - In August of 1920, a licence was granted to the CNR Café to employ female help. A licence was required for a Chinese-owned café to hire female employees.
1926 - The Female Employment Act replaces the former Act of 1919 by stating that women cannot work in a hotel, boarding house, café, restaurant or laundry without a special licence.
1939 -July 18, Dorise Neilsen was nominated as a candidate for the United Progressive Party in Battleford, the largest constituency area in all of Canada. She was the first woman MP in Saskatchewan.
1954 -Jean Cuthand, a Cree Indian from Little Pine Reserve, was the first person of native ancestry to complete nurse's training in Saskatchewan. She graduated in 1954 from Holy Family School of Nursing in Prince Albert. She worked in Lac La Ronge for a time.
1957 - June 21, the first woman federal cabinet minister - Ellen Fairclough of Hamilton, Ont. was appointed secretary of state.
1968 - The first person of native ancestry to run in a federal election in Saskatchewan was Carol Lavalee of the Cowessess Reserve in the Meadow Lake riding.
1973 - The Labour Standards Act provides for 18 weeks maternity leave and in 1977 the Act was amended to read 18 weeks, flexible maternity leave and there is stronger protection for pregnant women against unjust dismissal or layoff.
1974 -Sept. 17, four women swear oath of allegiance to the RCMP; after training, they will become the first female Mounties.
1980 - Jan. 1, the new Married Person's Property Act receives royal assent. The Act provides for an equal split of property, acquired by married persons, in the event of a divorce.
1982 - Saskatchewan's first female cabinet ministers - Joan Duncan and Patricia Smith.
1983 -Jan. 22, Dr. Roberta Bondar became Canada's first woman in space.
1993 -First female Canadian prime minister Kim Campbell, June 25 - Nov. 4.
???? - First female mayor of North Battleford.
???? -First female premier of Saskatchewan.
If you are interested in donating any items to the North Battleford Historic Archives please call 306-445-1786 or email [email protected].
