The Impact of the Case

Although the Famous Five themselves were never appointed senators, their victory in the "Persons" Case led to increased opportunities for women and their greater participation in government and in other areas of Canadian society. Four months after the judgement of the Judicial Committee of England's Privy Council, Cairine Wilson became the first female admitted to the Canadian Senate.

This landmark decision allows us to reflect on women's accomplishments over the last 71 years and inspires us to look forward and set new goals that will help women achieve full economic, social and political equality. The persistence and determination of this group of women is evident in the strategies they adopted to achieve change  -  they serve as excellent models for women today.

The National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada collections include extensive material on the life and times of these women, honouring their work and its relevance to present-day conditions. Newspaper and periodical articles, dissertations, sound recordings, brochures, conference data, postage stamps, posters, as well as monographs pay tribute to the Famous Five and the "Persons" Case.