Powerful women

Historical play about five inspirational women in Canadian politics can be watched online

SUMMERSIDE – An awardwinning stage performance about five powerful women who made history in Canada is available for viewing online.

"To the Power of Five: 1993 P.E.I. Women in Politics" records the one and only time that women held all of the leadership roles of a provincial Canadian government.

In 2018, Wyatt Heritage Properties Inc. staged the onetime production at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside to mark the 25th anniversary of the national achievement by Island female politicians.

The play was well received by the audience with a call for it to reach a wider audience.

Lori Ellis, manager of heritage and cultural properties for the City of Summerside, said the play deserves a much bigger audience than a theatre can give.

“Not only does it celebrate the journey of the five women who made history, but it is a work of inspiration to encourage other Canadian women, who make up 51 per cent of the population, to enter the political arena and take their place in the running of our country,” said Ellis.

“I especially encourage young women to watch the video and start the discussion on how to repeat the 1993 experience.”

The production documents the political journeys of Catherine Callbeck, Marion Reid, Pat Mella, Nancy Guptill, and Libby Hubley. Permission has been obtained from Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) for it to be shown online.

In 1993, Callbeck served as the first elected female premier of P.E.I. and in Canada. Mella served the leader of the official opposition. Guptill was Speaker of the House with Hubley as Deputy Speaker. And Reid served as the Lieutenant Governor.

At that moment none of the women saw themselves as making history.

"To the Power of Five: 1993 P.E.I. Women in Politics" was written by Marlene Campbell of Culture Summerside and directed by Sherri-Lee Pike.

Singers and songwriters Catherine MacLellan, Rachel Beck, Ashley Condon, Tara MacLean, and Meaghan Blanchard permitted their songs to be used in the production along with a women's choir.

Funding for the performance was provided by the province, Innovation P.E.I., City of Summerside, and Go Girl Fashions.

The performance can be viewed on, www.wyattheritagepropertiesinc.com and culturesummerside.com.