Every October, Canada marks Women’s History Month, and October 18 is Persons Day.

At Orleans Family Health Clinic, it is a moment to remember how recently women’s place in public life was settled in law, and to thank the women who shape our clinic and our community.

On October 18, 1929, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled that women are “persons” under Canadian law, which meant they could be appointed to the Senate. The case was brought by five Alberta women, Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Irene Parlby, known as the Famous Five.

Their decision to keep pressing for recognition opened doors in public life, in medicine and across the professions. Today, women are leaders, caregivers and decision-makers in every part of healthcare, including the team that cares for you here.

The ruling did not extend to every woman, including Indigenous women and women of Asian heritage, and the work toward equality continued long after 1929.

Women’s health deserves the same attention. Conditions like heart disease in women can look different and are often missed, and regular checkups and screening make a difference.

Happy Persons Day, and thank you to all the women who make Orleans a healthier place to live.