Born: July 10, 1896 (Saint-Irénée-les-Bains, Quebec)
Died: November 3, 1981
Biography:
Thérèse Casgrain was a remarkable French Canadian feminist, reformer, politician, and senator, known for her influential role in the fight for women’s right to vote in the province of Quebec. Born on July 10, 1896, in Saint-Irénée-les-Bains, near Quebec City, Thérèse was raised in a wealthy family. Her parents were Blanche, Lady Forget (nee MacDonald), and Sir Rodolphe Forget, a prominent entrepreneur and Conservative Member of Parliament.
In her early years, Thérèse attended the Dames du Sacré-Coeur, a boarding school at Sault-au-Récollet, near Montreal. Despite her aspirations to study further at university, her father did not support the idea, believing that women did not need higher education. Instead, he envisioned Thérèse mastering the skills required for managing a household, which he thought were more appropriate for a future wife of her social status.
Tragically, Thérèse experienced the loss of her first fiancé, who fell out of a window while sleepwalking when she was just seventeen years old. Undeterred by this tragedy, she married Pierre-François Casgrain, a wealthy Liberal politician, in 1916. Together, they raised four children.
Thérèse’s father, Sir Rodolphe, had been representing the Charlevoix riding as a Conservative since 1904. However, with the looming Conscription Crisis, he decided not to seek re-election in 1917 due to his opposition to conscription. To carry on the family’s political legacy, Pierre Casgrain, Thérèse’s husband, sought the nomination in the new Charlevoix—Montmorency riding for the Liberal Party as a Laurier Liberal, also opposing conscription. He won the general election and became the Member of Parliament. This marked the beginning of Thérèse’s involvement in politics.
Thérèse Casgrain’s awakening to the importance of women’s right to vote came during a visit to Ottawa in 1918, when she accompanied her husband for the opening of the parliamentary session. Seeing the significance of suffrage firsthand, she recognized the need for women to have a voice in the political process. Prior to the 1917 Canadian federal election, women did not possess the right to vote. However, the government of Prime Minister Borden passed the Wartime Elections Act, granting voting rights to wives, widows, mothers, and sisters of soldiers serving overseas. This measure was primarily aimed at securing support for the war effort but marked a significant milestone for women’s suffrage in Canada. Subsequently, the Borden government also adopted the Women’s Suffrage Act, which granted full voting rights to all Canadian women.
Inspired by these advancements, Thérèse Casgrain became a prominent leader in the women’s suffrage movement in Quebec. In 1921, she founded the Provincial Franchise Committee, which aimed to mobilize women and push for their right to vote. She tirelessly campaigned, organized conferences and meetings, and lobbied politicians, playing a crucial role in finally securing women’s suffrage in the province in 1940.
Thérèse’s accomplishments did not stop there. In 1951, she became the first woman to lead a political party in Canada when she was elected president of the newly formed Quebec branch of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). As head of the party, she focused on social justice issues, workers’ rights, and the advancement of women’s equality. Her leadership inspired many other women to become active in politics and fight for their rights.
In her later years, Thérèse Casgrain continued to be a passionate advocate for various causes. She opposed the development of nuclear weapons and became a prominent consumer activist, advocating for the rights and fair treatment of consumers. Even at the age of 83, she actively campaigned against Quebec sovereignty in the 1980 referendum, firmly believing in the importance of a strong federalist Canada.
Thérèse Casgrain’s life was characterized by her unwavering dedication to women’s rights, social justice, and the well-being of her fellow citizens. Her contributions to the suffrage movement and her trailblazing achievements as a female political leader have left an indelible mark on Canadian history.
Awards:
– Order of Canada (1967)
– Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1974)
– Quebec National Order (1980)
– Governor General’s Award in Citizenship (1978)
– Women’s Press Club of Quebec Award (1981)