The Liberal B.C. Government is honouring its women in politics over the years.
Last week, a special ceremony at the B.C. Legislature, the government unveiled an exhibition, Women and the Vote, to showcase women in B.C.’s history who have taken on leadership roles in both politics, as well as advocating for women’s voting rights.
“Today’s event was a proud moment for all women who have been elected,” said Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount who was also the first female attorney general in the province’s history.
“I am honoured to be one of the 102 women elected to our Legislature in the last 100 years,” she says.
B.C.’s delegates of Equal Voice’s Daughters of the Vote, and a panel of currently elected female MLAs were on hand for the ceremony.
The Daughters of the Vote national initiative is run by Equal Voice — a multi-partisan organization that strives to encourage more women to run for politics, according to the organization.
The Daughters were selected after a national application process for young women between 18- and 23-years-old. They will be going to Ottawa to fill all 308 House of Commons seats on International Women’s Day on March 8, 2017.
Women and the Vote highlight the accomplishments of a number of B.C. women, including Mary Ellen Smith, Premier Christy Clark, Minister Shirley Bond, Nancy Hodges, Tilly Rolston and Rosemary Brown.
In 1918, Smith was the first female MLA, according to the province, while in 1952 Rolston was the province’s first female cabinet minister in Canada with a portfolio.
Rosemary Brown was the first black Canadian female to be elected in 1972.
Premier Christy Clark was also the first female elected as premier in the province in 2011. In that same year, Shirley Bond was appointed as the first female attorney general in B.C.
All these women are commemorated in the exhibit.
The “Women and the Vote” unveiling is part of the Speaker’s celebrations for Women’s History Month, according to the province.
