1891

I have just sent a submitted a petition to the Law Society of Upper Canada to be admitted as a student member. I later found out that I was not accepted because I was not considered a person. Not considered a person!? Do I look like an animal to anyone?! I will not tolerate this, I will practise Law and I will be a lawyer!

1890- Graduation!

I have just come back from my graduation ceremony, oh what a day! Not only did I make my parents proud today but I also made myself proud. I have succesfully managed to major in mathematics something unheard of for females, no one can say that anymore can they? I also managed to graduate with high honours! The future is looking bright, I have broken through this barrier who knows what else I can achieve?! I must go join my fellow graduates for festivities, farewell for now!

1888- Trinity College

Today I have been accepted into Trinity College! Hooray! My mother and father will be so proud of me. I hope to follow in the footsteps of Grace Annie Lockhart who is the first woman to graduate from a Canadian university. To most this goal may seem absurd but stranger things have happened. When I gained knowledge of my accpentance I was quick to tell my parents and siblings they were all very supportive not mention pleasantly suprised.

Not everyone is as excited of my achievement as my family and I. Society considers me an outcast, women are not expected to attend school their work is at home taking care of their children and husband, but why should I care about the opinion of society that has no problem with child labour?! I hate the idea of my life being layed out for me by people who do not really care for my opinion or ideas. I really do hate that women let that kind of thing be done to them but mark my words I am one woman who will fight past these limited lives. Limits, limits, limits what an ugly word! That is a word that I hope to forget.

1929 - Women become "persons"

Today women are considered persons, equals with minds, idea, hopes, goals, dreams and ambitons. Do you understand the significance of that statement? Has it sunk in yet, because I am still unable to believe it! How long has it taken society to get to this point, how many arguements, debates and strikes had it taken? At times I had thought this goal was impossible and I had nearly lost all hope... but I did not. It only took one look at the world around me and then I was recharched with anger at this injustice and fully loaded with a new found drive. This is what helped me fulfill my personal goals but now you feminine readers of my blog can follow suite with less difficulty!

I strongly encourage all women to take this joyous oppurtunity to fulfill their dreams. We are now acknowledged as people so let us show them how wrong they were to ever treat us otherwise. Let this be a lesson to all self-righteous men that the female can be just as good as they are in any field. Let this be a reminder to all our daughters that they too are people and have more options in life than being a house wife. To all the women out there, let's be an example of what women can really do, let's represent our gender as we continue on this journey and push all limitations set before us because we truly can achieve the goals we set for ourselves!

1917 - Women gain right to vote in Federal Elections

At last suffrage has been granted! In federal elections that is. Some stubborn men still refuse to give women the right to vote in smaller meetings but that will hopefully change in the near future. I cannot possibly describe the joy I feel to you! The struggle that women went through to gain what I find a basic right is propesterous but the fact that certain women for example the suffragettes fought through it all is absolutely amazing not to mention admirable.

I feel the need to congratulate Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Louise Mckinney, Henrietta Muir Edwards and all the other women who have fought for our cause and pushed these ridiculous limits. As I have already said this achievement is just a small step on a long journey, we must push forward and never lose sight of our goal to be treated and respected as equals! If we continue on this road who knows what great things we can achieve in the future!

1917 - Conscription enacted

Conscription has now become law. Personally I dont feel that this is a good idea because laws that force people to do things that they do not want usually end disastorouly. It may not happen today but someday later on people will fight against it, people will disagree and eventually they will no longer hold their silence. I may be a lawyer but I do not always agree with the law. The law often looks at the situation of a large group of people and the exceptions are usually vague, for example a disabled man is excused from war. How about a man that is the sole provider for his family, or a man with an undiagnosed physical or mental condition? In our times medicne and such are not that advanced and not all situations are diagnosed. What happens to those who's dissabilities fall through the cracks?

Forcing people in to the war when they did not intend to is not a good idea. Think about it, there is a reason this person is resisting. If someone who is afraid to go to war is forced to what good will they be? Fear is a very strong emotion and sending them is potentially endangering the other soldiers. Laws like this plant seeds of hate into peoples hearts and hate can go a long way. I just wish the government would think ahead before they finalize these types of descision, that would be best.

1914 - The Great War

Well, tension has finally broke out into war. The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente are really going at it and Canada has sided with the Triple Entente ofcourse. My prediction is that the Triple Entente will come out victorious seeing as the Brittish Empire is so strong. Many allies have also been confirmed adding to the Empire's strength. Often when people think of the war they think of the big names, the government and the economy. How about the soldiers, their wives, their children, their parents and their friends?? These soldiers are people too! I can only imagine the things that they go through, the pain, the fear and the loss. War is really not an answer for anything I wish people could see that! Young men are being forced into all of this by conscription and patriotism they had lives, plans, and goals!

The tension turned into war when the Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia were assisnated by a Serbian nationalist. I feel as if the people who are the root of the problem are just sending pawns to fight for them. What is the purpose of sending people to die?! Life is a very precious thing to everyone even if you are the Queen it doesn't mean your life is more precious than a peasant's. Sure you may have a higher title but stripped away of it you are both human, both feel, and both hold some purpose not matter how small. Many people that I know have been personally affected by this war and I see what they go through, it's truly tragic. At this point I cannot tell how long this war will last but I do know that it will leave huge effects. This war is also known as "The War to End All Wars" but is it really? This is just an example to future generations about how our society dealt with issues. Think about it are we not hypocrites telling our children not to hit others when we later expect them to kill!

I personally believe that we should find a more peaceful and civil way to deal with issues like in courts with lawyers. You would be surprised how much we can resolve if we listen to each others problems.

1896 - First films shown in Canada

My goodness today I have watched the first film shown in Canada! What a spectacle! I have never seen anything like it before, how they got the people on the screen I will never know. I was lucky enough to have a seat in the back so I could enjoy the movie and the viewers reactions. As soon as the lights went down I could almost feel the audiences anxiety and growing excitement. The scene opened up to the conductor being held at gun point I was expecting the screams that followed but I was not expecting that many hecklers! Shouts of devils work, magicians and black magic rung throughout the hall, women grabbed their husbands arms in fear and men tried not to show the obvious confusion and fear in their eyes. I on the other hand was absolutely amazed, the makers of this movie had made a breakthrough that should be congratulated not discouraged. After a couple of minutes the audience calmed down but that sense of nervouse fear had never left the room. The next waves of screams came when the train appeared to be coming straght at us! This time workers were sent to escort the ones who where hysterical which ended up being quite a few people. In the end I was one of the only women left in the room but that suited me quite fine. At the end of the day I quite enjoyed the movie and am excitedly looking forward to future presentations.

1908 - Anne of Green Gables is published

Anne of Green Gables, what a wonderful book! What is the best part you may ask. Well the author is the best part. The author is actually a female named Lucy Maud Montgomery! Not many people are aware that the writer is a female but with society today maybe that is best. The book is about an orphan girl name Anne Shirley that is taken in by a an elderly brother and sister named Marilla Cuthbert and Matthew Cuthbert. Anne is an energetic, imaginative, and caring girl her perspective on life is refreshing she brings a unique joy to kind old Mathew. Marilla on the other hand is stricter and harder to please and it does not help that Ann is a bit of a trouble maker making it hard for Marilla to accept her much less tolerate her. The pair actually requested a boy at first because Mathew is getting older and cannot do much of the field work on his own anymore. They are not quite sure what to do, so they consider their options. Marilla thinks it would be best to set the mistake straight and get the boy they requested which means returining Ann to that dreadful orphanage because they will not support two children. Mathew on the other hand would love for Ann to stay because she always manages to keep a smile on his face. Ann is desperately trying to please Marilla because she could not bear to move to that orphanage. What will end up happening? Will they keep Ann? Will Marilla ever accept her? Read the book to find out. This book was humourous, sad, and taught me alot about acceptance and the need to recieve it. The author's unique idea made the book worthwhile! L.M. Montgomery congratulations on a job well done!

1904 - Head tax on Chinese raised to $500

The head tax on Chinese was raised to $500! The injustice of it all leaves me speechless. I know more than enough lawyers that would gladly speak out but since times are tough and everyone is watching their own skin it is almost impossible. As much as I hate to admit it, it was a smart way to make sure Chinese people couldn't come to Canada but what I find so unfair is that the Chinese are the only ones being targeted, it's just not right. I didn't have much to write I just wanted to infrom the people of what was going on, most of you will not care but to those of you who do I shall keep you posted.

1891 - Children's Aid Society established by the City of Toronto

This blog is dedicated to J.J. Kelso:

Well done J.J. Kelso! You truly are the children's friend! Your service to the children is admirable. Not many people have ever even cared to do what you have done. In a society like ours children are often forgotten and fall through the cracks, the only time they are remembered is when there is something to be worked on because they are seen as an extra pair of hands. I understand that you yourself have had a hard life, living in poverty and working in a bookstore for only 1 dollar a week. Not many people can make something good out of a bad situation but you have managed to do so and I applaud you for that. I know what it feels like to pursue a goal even when the odds are stacked against you but your goal has benefitted people in an amazing way I cannot congratulate you enough. I am also more than pleased to announce that the government is making more and more laws to protect children's rights! Once again well done and your achievement will not be forgotten.

1887 - Factory Act

Aha! My suspicions of the Factory Act have proved to be true. The act has officially been passed it states that the employment of males under 12 and females under 14 have been banned. I strongly agree with this new law because people overwork these poor children and in the end of the day they still are just children they're the most vulnerable of people. Their rights are often not respected and no one really cares enough to look in to it. Less children in the work force means smaller risk of injury. I know many would that, that would affect in a negative way because when work related injuries occur people would hire a lawyer but it is not like any of these children's families could afford a lawyer in the first place, that is why I can easily support them. Another reason why I support people who's rights aren't being respected is because I can relate to them. When your a female working in a male dominated proffesion, being disrespected, looked down upon, and forgotten is almost inevitable. It will probably be hard for the families who have lost that small income because no matter how small it was it made a difference to them too. Hopefully they will find a way to support themselves.

1885 - Head tax imposed on Chinese immigrants

The head tax on Chinese immigrants is absolutely proposterous and not to mention racist! These poor workers have spent countless hours working on the Canadian Pacific Railway. They were given the most dangerous of jobs and paid the least money. They left everything they had to make a better life for them and their family and now after all that hard work the government puts a head tax on them and them only? It is an outrage, it is racist, it is injustice and it is an embarrassment to Canadian history. The chinese may have been workers but they were people too. Charging every chinese that comes after the Canadian Pacific Railway was built makes it obvious that the Government was only using these people. And why should the Chinese be the only ones charged? How can the government justify that? If your going to charge then you might as well charge all races equally instead of discriminating against one race especially when that race did so much that benefitted us.

1873- Canadian Labour Union Formed

Many have asked me my opinion on Unions and now I am going to inform them. Unions are in my opinion a great idea for workers especially those who work in industries. It's a good way to make sure your opinion is heard because unions are not easily ignored. It is a dog eat dog world out there and often employers will think of their own needs before their employees, the Canadian Labour Union protects these employees. The Canadian Labour Union opposed the Government and spoke out against the long hours, low wages, inhumane working conditions and child labour workers. I truly do hope that something is done to help these innocent child labour workers, I have heard rumours of a Factory Act but I do not know much about it, all I am aware of is that the Canadian Labour Union is working very, very hard. They made sure opinions were heard, concerns voiced, and justice was being served. Justice, is that not my area of expertise? Many lawyers were hired to talk on both sides but the Canadian Labour Union made a bigger impact on the government. I honeslty believe that the Canadian Labour Union will have a positive impact on Canada's Future.

1867- Emily Stowe

7 years before I was born on 1867 women had made a step toward the future. Emily Stowe had become the first Canadian female to practise medicine in Canada. She is an excellent example of hard work and perseverance because even though she applied to the Toronto School of Medicine and was rejected because she was a female, she tried again. She applied to the New York school of medicine and was finally accepted! I chose to blog about her achievement today because just last week I have managed to reach my goal, I have finally become the first female canadian lawyer! Now I truly understand the struggle Stowe went through to be recognized for her achievments in a male dominated proffession. I look up to her a great deal because our goals and the struggle to get there are quite similar. Yes women have made a step toward the future but it is just a small step on a long journey. We must keep pushing the limits set before us by a dictatorship of men! How many of us our housewives? Expected to stay at home and put our hopes and dreams to the side. Let Emily Stowe and I be a lesson to you, an example of the outcome of having not just goals but the courage to achieve them.