ON THIS DAY

November 13, 1973 - A jury acquitted Dr. Henry Morgentaler of violating the Criminal Code in performing abortions. A divisive figure, Morgentaler had been performing abortions since 1968 and established illegal abortion clinics across

Canada. He was convicted in a later trial and served 10 months, faced death threats and his Toronto clinic was firebombed. His campaigning, however, eventually led the Supreme Court to strike down the abortion provision in the Criminal Code. In 2008, Morgentaler was awarded the Order of Canada “for his commitment to increased health care options for women”.