Irene
Parbly was
one of the most influential Canadians because of the attention she brought to
her potentials. Not only did she make it clear that a woman could be
successfully in power, she was also the first woman to prove it by receiving an
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Alberta in 1935. Irene Parlby was only the second woman in the British
Empire to hold ministerial office, and she has, through her history, become the
best known member of “The Famous Five.” Even if her contributions aren’t well
known, she’s on the fifty dollar bill for a reason. Mrs. Parlby
supported 18 bills passed
to improve
the plight of women and
children, six
of which she introduced
herself. She
was a mother, the first
president of
the United Farm Women
of Alberta
and a staunch advocate for
rural Alberta
women and distance
education. Irene Parlby
represented Canada at
the League
of Nations in Geneva in
1930. The statue that presents the famous five has a plaque that reads all of Parlby’s
achievements. Although
all five women were named honorary senators in 2009, it seems that their
efforts have still been largely in vain. Only 37 women sat in the 40th Canadian
Parliament, a mere 12 per cent. However, female politicians can still look to
the statues as a symbol in the ongoing struggle for equality.
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