{"id":6068,"date":"2022-11-07T09:34:12","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T14:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/?p=6068"},"modified":"2025-01-29T15:38:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:38:44","slug":"equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Equal Rights and Opportunities&#8221;: How the National Council of Women in Ottawa Changed Attitudes Towards Women"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In October 2023, the National Council of Women of Canada will celebrate its 130th anniversary. It is one of Canada\u2019s oldest human rights organizations. <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/uk\/\">Ottawa One<\/a> explores the origins of this women\u2019s rights group and the activists who worked to improve women\u2019s rights and expand their opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0cea3aa4fed\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0cea3aa4fed\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#Lady_Aberdeen_and_the_National_Council_of_Women_of_Canada\" >Lady Aberdeen and the National Council of Women of Canada<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#Organizational_Structure\" >Organizational Structure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#The_First_President_of_the_Organization_in_Ottawa\" >The First President of the Organization in Ottawa<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#The_First_Congress\" >The First Congress<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#Congress_Results_Adopted_Resolutions\" >Congress Results: Adopted Resolutions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#Early_Womens_Movements_in_Canada\" >Early Women\u2019s Movements in Canada<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#Womens_Suffrage\" >Women\u2019s Suffrage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/equal-rights-and-opportunities-how-the-national-council-of-women-in-ottawa-changed-attitudes-towards-women-6068\/#The_Ongoing_Struggle_for_Womens_Rights\" >The Ongoing Struggle for Women\u2019s Rights<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lady_Aberdeen_and_the_National_Council_of_Women_of_Canada\"><\/span>Lady Aberdeen and the National Council of Women of Canada<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The organization was founded in 1893 in Toronto on the initiative of Lady Aberdeen. It is important to note that this women\u2019s rights group is based in Ottawa. Lady Aberdeen was an extraordinary individual\u2014capable and highly intelligent. Her husband, Lord Aberdeen, the Governor General of Canada, fully supported her interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lady Aberdeen made history through the following actions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>She established the Aberdeen Ladies\u2019 Union, an institution that helped young women in Scotland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By founding the Onward and Upward association, she enabled female servants to access education.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>She also led the Liberal Women\u2019s Federation and advocated for women&#8217;s voting rights. In 1893, Lady Aberdeen spoke at the World\u2019s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, highlighting the power of women in politics. At the same event, Canadian doctor Emily Howard Stowe also delivered a speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the exposition, they gathered at a hotel and decided to organize the National Council of Women, which would be affiliated with the International Council of Women. Thus, what began as a chance meeting became a historic event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Organizational_Structure\"><\/span>Organizational Structure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lady Aberdeen was appointed the first president of the International Council of Women, serving from 1893 to 1899, again from 1904 to 1920, and once more from 1922 to 1936.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The vice president was May Wright Sewall, an American women&#8217;s rights advocate. Sewall was known for promoting rational women&#8217;s fashion, rejecting traditional corsets and floor-length skirts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In October 1893, a new organization\u2014the National Council of Women of Canada\u2014was officially established in Toronto. Hundreds of women gathered to highlight female achievements in work and education, as well as their influence and responsibilities. Lady Aberdeen was elected president, which encouraged the creation of local councils for women\u2019s organizations and associations across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Ottawa, by mid-January 1894, 27 organizations had joined the movement, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Children\u2019s Hospital<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home for Single Women<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Association for Women\u2019s Rights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Women\u2019s Christian Temperance Union<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protestant Home for the Elderly, among others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, at that time, membership fees were $2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawa1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/01\/ad_4nxfcuxxnkb1xd2nxhwwkog-rodmlcuutn627hjta_qb6hjuwyixf5hfpirtxqsm57mpkvls1mtunzmlbwaptqskenjka6dqobjggu__rauta2kkw06f14x-ztfmg-uskggeq78sbvwkeydvqgo9cojntdtpvnrxw7tyjv.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_First_President_of_the_Organization_in_Ottawa\"><\/span>The First President of the Organization in Ottawa<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first president was Lady Ritchie (Grace Vernon Nicholson), wife of Sir William Johnson Ritchie, the Chief Justice of Canada. She also served as vice president of the National Council of Women of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other influential women who held vice-presidential roles at various times included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mrs. R.W. Scott (Mary Ann Heron)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Madame Taschereau (Marie-Antoinette Harwood)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mrs. Erskine Bronson (Ella Webster)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mrs. Gwynne, and other distinguished women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_First_Congress\"><\/span>The First Congress<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first congress took place at 10 a.m. in a neo-Gothic building, which later became part of Ottawa\u2019s City Hall. The windows were decorated with floral arrangements, and flags adorned the hall. The meeting began with a silent prayer, as the women present came from diverse religious backgrounds and held various beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lady Aberdeen\u2019s opening speech reflected the traditional role of women in society as &#8220;mothers&#8221; and &#8220;keepers of the home.&#8221; Due to her position as the Governor General\u2019s wife, her speech was restricted. When supporters of women\u2019s suffrage approached her, she declined to comment due to the controversy surrounding the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the congress, the following topics were discussed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The creation of women\u2019s clubs and their significant benefits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parent-child relationships and responsibilities. Ottawa writer Annie Howell Frechette emphasized that corporal punishment was ineffective.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The influence of women in society.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Issues related to domestic service, which was one of the most debated topics at the end of the 19th century.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That evening, the Aberdeens hosted a grand reception\u2014a lavish ball on the first floor of Rideau Hall. Over 1,000 guests attended, and the highlight of the evening was Lord Aberdeen\u2019s formal endorsement of the National Council of Women of Canada. Notably, he became the first patron of the Council, donating $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawa1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/01\/ad_4nxemesgcsbbvdkm8vxjnffgcagzeo-l_xsjdgv-8rkdjggfqwqy9jmjgoqw_nxkg14fn4zzf_uywddrjs_-f30fzbpsij4v1kho8zwlou3ywine59p7u0fzjxs3j2pabxogkxrfnzgkeydvqgo9cojntdtpvnrxw7tyjv.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Congress_Results_Adopted_Resolutions\"><\/span>Congress Results: Adopted Resolutions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provincial governments were urged to appoint female inspectors for workshops and factories employing women.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The government was called to use international arbitration to peacefully resolve international disputes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local councils were to allocate separate prisons for juvenile offenders, especially for first-time offenders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By the late 1890s, the National Council of Women of Canada continued to expand. It supported the establishment of free public libraries (Ottawa\u2019s was founded in 1906) and backed the &#8220;Famous Five&#8221; from Alberta in their fight for women\u2019s eligibility to sit in the Senate of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_Womens_Movements_in_Canada\"><\/span>Early Women\u2019s Movements in Canada<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this movement was known as the first-wave feminism. The movement focused on temperance, women&#8217;s suffrage, and labour and health rights, advocating for legal and political equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most prominent women\u2019s organizations included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>National Council of Women of Canada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Women\u2019s Christian Temperance Union, the largest non-denominational women\u2019s organization in 19th-century Canada. Members fought against alcohol consumption, which was linked to domestic violence. They also promoted women\u2019s suffrage, established public libraries, and worked on prison reform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Federation of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, an organization of female scholars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Womens_Suffrage\"><\/span>Women\u2019s Suffrage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1918, at the end of World War I, most women gained the right to vote. This period was pivotal, as women struggled to define their next steps. Debates arose over the formation of women\u2019s political parties and the need for participation in previously male-dominated organizations. Over time, women pushed for educational equality and fair employment opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The early women&#8217;s movements aimed to realize bold, diverse, and sometimes controversial plans. Activists highlighted issues of sexism and misogyny, and their efforts led to significant improvements in women\u2019s education, employment, legal rights, and healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Ongoing_Struggle_for_Womens_Rights\"><\/span>The Ongoing Struggle for Women\u2019s Rights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, women continue to fight for equal rights and opportunities. While significant progress has been made, it is crucial to remember those who pioneered this movement. The National Council of Women in Ottawa has had a rich history of triumphs and challenges, but one thing remains constant\u2014the unwavering belief and noble mission of its founders and their successors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In October 2023, the National Council of Women of Canada will celebrate its 130th anniversary. It is one of Canada\u2019s oldest human rights organizations. Ottawa One explores the origins of this women\u2019s rights group and the activists who worked to improve women\u2019s rights and expand their opportunities. Lady Aberdeen and the National Council of Women [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":469,"featured_media":6072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1166],"tags":[3344,3353,3352,3355,3342,3348,3346,3350,3354,3341,3343,3351,3347,3345,3349],"motype":[],"moformat":[],"moimportance":[78,81],"class_list":{"0":"post-6068","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-education","8":"tag-achieving-legal-and-political-equality-for-women","9":"tag-early-womens-movements-in-canada","10":"tag-equal-rights-and-opportunities","11":"tag-first-wave-feminism","12":"tag-history-of-ottawa","13":"tag-improving-the-conditions-and-rights-of-women","14":"tag-international-council-of-women","15":"tag-lady-aberdeen","16":"tag-lady-aberdeens-ball","17":"tag-national-council-of-women-of-canada","18":"tag-the-organizations-first-donations","19":"tag-the-organizations-first-president-in-ottawa","20":"tag-the-struggle-for-womens-rights","21":"tag-womens-christian-temperance-union","22":"tag-womens-rights","23":"moimportance-golovna-novina","24":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori"},"modified_by":"Katya Koshevaya","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/469"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6068"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6081,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6068\/revisions\/6081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6068"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=6068"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=6068"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawa1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=6068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}