| Agnes Macphail began her career as a country schoolteacher but her interest in agricultural problems led her into politics. She was the first woman elected to the Canadian Parliament and sat in the House of Commons from 1921 until she was defeated in 1940. She was later elected twice to the Ontario Legislature where she was responsible for the province's first equal pay legislation in 1951. A champion of human rights, she fought successfully for old age pensions, prison reform and farmers' co-operatives. She founded the Elizabeth Fry Society and was active in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She died just before her Senate appointment was to be announced. C-006908 |