Celebrating International Women's Day 2016
In honour of International Women’s Day 2016, SenCAPlus asked members of the Senate Committee on Human Rights which women had inspired them. Here’s what they had to say.
Razia Sultana, as she is commonly known, was the first and only female Sultan of Delhi ruling from 1236-1240. She refused to be called Sultana, a title meaning “wife”, and insisted that her subjects call her Sultan. Not only was she a fair and just ruler beloved by those she governed, she was also a skilled warrior. She established schools, libraries and encouraged education across religions in Delhi. Many historians equate her to being “manlike” in her rule- she even adopted a masculine way of dress. In reality, I view her as what she was: A successful woman not willing to let men dictate how she should behave and what she should be known as.
– Senator Salma Ataullahjan (Ontario), Deputy Chair
Florence Rosberg: My grandmother, educator, community leader, force of nature.
– Senator Linda Frum (Ontario)
My mother, Kye Soon Kim (née Kwon), has inspired me to live and work with passion and compassion. She also inspired me to be a working mother, wife and many things to many people – to do all that I can in this life. She was born (on November 14, 1937) during the period of Korea’s occupation by Imperial Japan; and later survived the Korean War (1950-1953). She was raised by a father (who was a successful businessman by day and a freedom fighter all other times, assisting destitute Koreans living in Japan during the colonial period); and a mother, who widowed in her 30’s in post-colonial Korea, became an entrepreneur to feed her surviving family. My mother, whose opportunities and that of a vast majority of Koreans were stolen from them, raised me with a daily mantra: “Do all that I never had the chance to do….”. My mother is my greatest champion and guardian angel.
– Senator Yonah Martin (British Columbia)
Sister Peggy Butts was my high school principal at Holy Angels High. She was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Chretien in 1997, which made her the first religious sister to be appointed to the Senate. She made an outstanding contribution to social justice in Nova Scotia, and she received the Weiler Award because of her contribution to social development in Canada. She was a founding member of the Eastern Regional Health Board, she served on the Task Force on the East Coast Fishery and the NS Roundtable on the Economy and the Environment.Sister Butts was a remarkable person who worked throughout her life to make things better.
– Senator Jane Cordy (Nova Scotia)
Rosemary Brown is important to me because she taught me that until race and gender discrimination are both solved, then none of us have made it, made it to being equal with the white male, in Canada. She was a fierce warrior princess.
– Senator Nancy Ruth (Ontario)
All her life, Catherine Callbeck has been a trailblazer for women: in the PEI legislature, in Canada’s Parliament, and in business. She was Canada’s first woman to be elected premier, and helped pave the way for all women in politics today. I am inspired by her leadership and tenacity.”
– Senator Elizabeth Hubley (Prince Edward Island)
“Landon Pearson is my inspiration because of her advocacy of children’s rights. Her tireless work for the rights of the child, both as a Senator and in her creation of The Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children’s Rights at Carleton University, have helped keep the spotlight on issues relating to childhood, children, as well as youth inclusion and involvement in our communities. She also established the tradition of hosting students in the Senate Chamber for National Child Day Celebrations. The event is held in commemoration of Canada’s adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it is an honor to continue to host this event every November in the Senate.”
- Senator Jim Munson, Chair (Ontario)
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Celebrating International Women's Day 2016
In honour of International Women’s Day 2016, SenCAPlus asked members of the Senate Committee on Human Rights which women had inspired them. Here’s what they had to say.
Razia Sultana, as she is commonly known, was the first and only female Sultan of Delhi ruling from 1236-1240. She refused to be called Sultana, a title meaning “wife”, and insisted that her subjects call her Sultan. Not only was she a fair and just ruler beloved by those she governed, she was also a skilled warrior. She established schools, libraries and encouraged education across religions in Delhi. Many historians equate her to being “manlike” in her rule- she even adopted a masculine way of dress. In reality, I view her as what she was: A successful woman not willing to let men dictate how she should behave and what she should be known as.
– Senator Salma Ataullahjan (Ontario), Deputy ChairFlorence Rosberg: My grandmother, educator, community leader, force of nature.
– Senator Linda Frum (Ontario)
My mother, Kye Soon Kim (née Kwon), has inspired me to live and work with passion and compassion. She also inspired me to be a working mother, wife and many things to many people – to do all that I can in this life. She was born (on November 14, 1937) during the period of Korea’s occupation by Imperial Japan; and later survived the Korean War (1950-1953). She was raised by a father (who was a successful businessman by day and a freedom fighter all other times, assisting destitute Koreans living in Japan during the colonial period); and a mother, who widowed in her 30’s in post-colonial Korea, became an entrepreneur to feed her surviving family. My mother, whose opportunities and that of a vast majority of Koreans were stolen from them, raised me with a daily mantra: “Do all that I never had the chance to do….”. My mother is my greatest champion and guardian angel.
– Senator Yonah Martin (British Columbia)
Sister Peggy Butts was my high school principal at Holy Angels High. She was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Chretien in 1997, which made her the first religious sister to be appointed to the Senate. She made an outstanding contribution to social justice in Nova Scotia, and she received the Weiler Award because of her contribution to social development in Canada. She was a founding member of the Eastern Regional Health Board, she served on the Task Force on the East Coast Fishery and the NS Roundtable on the Economy and the Environment.Sister Butts was a remarkable person who worked throughout her life to make things better.
– Senator Jane Cordy (Nova Scotia)
Rosemary Brown is important to me because she taught me that until race and gender discrimination are both solved, then none of us have made it, made it to being equal with the white male, in Canada. She was a fierce warrior princess.
– Senator Nancy Ruth (Ontario)
All her life, Catherine Callbeck has been a trailblazer for women: in the PEI legislature, in Canada’s Parliament, and in business. She was Canada’s first woman to be elected premier, and helped pave the way for all women in politics today. I am inspired by her leadership and tenacity.”
– Senator Elizabeth Hubley (Prince Edward Island)
“Landon Pearson is my inspiration because of her advocacy of children’s rights. Her tireless work for the rights of the child, both as a Senator and in her creation of The Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children’s Rights at Carleton University, have helped keep the spotlight on issues relating to childhood, children, as well as youth inclusion and involvement in our communities. She also established the tradition of hosting students in the Senate Chamber for National Child Day Celebrations. The event is held in commemoration of Canada’s adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it is an honor to continue to host this event every November in the Senate.”
- Senator Jim Munson, Chair (Ontario)