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Copyright © 2004-2012 Dawn E. Monroe. All rights reserved.

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The names appearing below are just a fraction of the Canadian women of accomplishment. Check out The Famous Canadian Women 's section ON THE JOB  which contains mini profiles of 1000 Canadian Women of Achievement.

Lawyers Many lawyers went on to become  politicians. Be sure to check out the Politicians section as well.    

Clara Brett Martin. Born Toronto, Ontario circa 1874.  Died October 30, 1923.  After receiving an honours BA from Trinity College in Toronto in 1888, The Law Society of Upper Canada refused to accept her as a student. Enlisting the help of notable and forceful people of the day, including, Dr Emily Stowe, Ontario Premier Oliver Mowat and Lady Aberdeen, to force legislation that would allow women as barristers.  In 1897 she became the first woman lawyer in the British Empire. Even though she was licensed she did not often enter court. Her presence in the court room caused too much of a ruckus. It would not be until the middle of the century that women would be able to comfortably represent their profession in the courts.

 

Helen Alice Kinnear . Born Cayuga, Ontario May 6, 1894. She graduated and was called to the Ontario bar, to become a lawyer, in 1920. She practiced law in Port Colborne, Ontario until 1943, when she was appointed county-court judge for Haldimand County. In 1947 she was appointed judge of the Juvenile Court. She was the first woman in the British Commonwealth to be created a Kings Counsel and the first in the Commonwealth appointed to a county-court bench and the first lawyer in Canada to appear as counsel before the Supreme Court in Canada in 1935. In 1993 the Canadian Post Office issued a commemorative stamp to honour the achievements of this woman Lawyer.

 
Marion Ironquil Meadmore was appointed to the Manitoba Barr and is  the first aboriginal Canadian woman lawyer.
 
Constance R. Glube Née Lepofky. Born Ottawa, Ontario November 23, 1931. In 1952 she earned her BA at McGill University, Montreal and married Richard Glube. The couple would have 4 children. By 1955 she had graduated in law at Dalhousie University and entered the Bar of Nova Scotia. In 1974 she became the Manager of the City of Halifax, the first woman in Canada to hold such a position. In 1977 she received the Award of Merit from a grateful City of Halifax. September 21, 1977 she was appointed In 1982 she was appointed 21st Chief Justice of Nova Scotia and in 1998 Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nova Scotia, once again being the first woman in Canada to be appointed to such a position, retiring in 2004. She is a judicial leader and mentor who has the admiration and respect of her peers. She has been active in judicial education and court administration. She has graciously served on various and numerous professional and volunteer boards and committees at local, provincial and national levels. Accolades for her services have included: The Canada 125 Medal, 1992; the Frances Fish Award, a women lawyers Achievement Award, 1997; The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award, 2002; the International Honours Society Golden Key Award, 2003; numerous honourary doctorate degrees from universities; Honourary member of the Canadian Bar Association, 2004; the Order of Nova Scotia 2005 and the Order of Canada , 2006. Suggested sources: Protocol Office, Order of Nova Scotia Recipients Http://www.gov.ns.ca/frot/2005recipients.htm (Accessed August 2008; Canadian Who’s Who . Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006.

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