Celebrating a century of voting
Female politicians mark 100th anniversary of women obtaining the right to vote in municipal elections
Women in Newfoundland and Labrador have come a long way from the early 20th century, when they were mocked for wanting to vote.
Today, women in this province are leading the way in many political organizations and levels of governments.
But during an event Tuesday in St. John’s celebrating the 100th anniversary of property-owning women obtaining the right to vote in municipal elections, two female politicians in this province said there needs to be more.
St. John’s Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’leary and MHA Pam Parsons, minister responsible for women and gender equality, agree more women need to put their names forward to run for political positions.
“It’s incredibly important to realize that women are leaders. They always have been in our community,” O’leary said at Persistence Threatre Company’s Votes for Women 100 event to launch special projects commemorating the anniversary.
“But I think it’s also important to realize we have a long way to go.”
With municipal elections set for September, O’leary said she hopes more women will not only vote, but put their names on the ballot.
“We want to ensure we, as a community, continue to support women stepping up and becoming leaders, in decision-making roles, where they can make policy and continue to lead in a political capacity.”
In her first official event since being named to her role, Parsons, MHA for Harbour Grace-port de Grave, commended women who step up to take political roles. She made special mention of newly elected MHAS Lucy Stoyles, formerly a longtime Mount Pearl city councillor, and Krista Lynn Howell, minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and registrar, who was formerly St. Anthony’s first female mayor.
“As we recognize the first steps of women gaining the right to vote in municipal elections, I certainly hope it will inspire more women and gender-diverse folks to run for office at this local level this coming fall,” Parsons told the several dozen people who attended the event at Canadian AV facility.
“I know the impact that local councils have in our province.”
Parsons said of the 40 members in the House of Assembly, nine are women. She said there were more women and non-binary individuals who stepped forward to run in the 2021 provincial election than ever before, and she encourages more to step forward.
“There’s a saying, ‘We miss 100 per cent of the shots we don’t take,’ so do it. Go for it,” Parsons said, speaking later to reporters. “I encourage everyone … to support them, not simply because we’re women, but because we can do it.”
The event was also attended by Jack Harris, NDP MP for St. John’s East, who spoke about Julia Salter Earle, one of the first women to run for political office in Newfoundland.
“Her slogan was ‘Vote for Julia. She won’t fool ya,” Harris said, sparking laughter.
Margot Duley, Votes for Women 100 steering committee chairperson, brought greetings remotely, while actors performed segments from the play “The Mirror,” and Allison Kelly performed an excerpt from “What is She Wearing.”
Persistence Theatre Company — a group that uses professional theatre to promote the cause of feminism — announced four projects.
The Ladies’ Reading Room series will run on the first Tuesday of each month, each under a different theme that was relevant to women in both 1921 and 2021.
On Oct. 23, the Women’s March will begin at the Colonial Building and arrive at a rally held at St. John’s City Hall.
“The Mirror” — a new play written by award-winning author Trudy Morgan-cole about Armine Nutting Gosling’s life — is scheduled for Oct. 20-24 at the LSPU Hall. Gosling, mayor William Gilbert Gosling’s wife, led the women’s suffrage movement in Newfoundland and founded the Ladies’ Reading Room in the early 20th century.
As well, Persistence Theatre aims to raise money to commission a commemorative statue of Gosling, designed and created in bronze by local sculptor Sheila Coultas to be erected in Bannerman Park. It would be the first statue for a named woman in St. John’s and only the third erected in the province. The other two are of Shanawdithit, in Boyd’s Cove, and Amelia Earhart, in Harbour Grace.
Jenn Deon, producing artistic director of Persistence Theatre Company, said, “Art is one of the most powerful ways to change hearts and minds.” She hopes the projects inspire women to look at their own lives and make changes to advance women’s position in society.
“When looking back 100 years at what our foremothers were going through and struggling for women’s equality, there are certainly still some things that we’re struggling with to this day,” said Deon, who ran for the NDP in the Virginia Waters-pleasantville district in the 2021 provincial election.
“Until we have equity in politics, economics, personal life, we’re not going to really achieve the equity and equality that women deserve.”
More information on Vote for Women 100 is available online at votesforwomen100. ca.