Famous Canadian Women's Historic Timeline - 2000-2005

Return to Timeline introduction

2000 AD to 2005 AD
Events listed relate to Canadian women with a few extra items added to give the timeline perspective.

This timeline is not all inclusive.

The timeline was fun to prepare and hopefully it will be fun to read. Perhaps it will even be useful.

Events listed are drawn from various sources including those listed on other areas of http://famouscanadianwomen.com

If you wish more information on the women listed in this timeline be sure and check out the birthdays listed in
"Do you share a birthday with a famous Canadian woman?"

LAST UPDATED December 2012

DATES	EVENTS
2000	*January 17, 2000 -* Canada Post issues a commemorative stamp honouring Dr Maude Abbott (1869-1940) an internationally acclaimed expert in the human heart. *2000 - Maryse Carmichael,* a captain with the Canadian Air Force, is the first female pilot to fly with the Canadian Forces' national aerobatic team, the Snowbirds. *2000 - Nycole Turmel* becomes the first woman (and first Francophone) president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Source Canada Women's Foundation. History of the women's movement: selected moments of importance in the history of Canadian women , 2004 (accessed 2005) . January 7, 2000 - Beverly McLachlin (1943- ) is the first woman to become Chief Justice of Canada. 2000 - Catriona Le May Doan (1970- ) becomes the first Canadian individual to successfully defend a gold medal at any Olympic Games. 2000 - Canadian women's Hockey team wins Olympic Gold medal. April 17, 2000 - Pat Duncan (1960- ) is elected Premier of the Yukon. May 28, 2000 - the tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated in front of the War Memorial in Ottawa. The tomb would have a clear cover over the casket for several days before the permanent cover was finally added. June 20, 2000 - Betty Kennedy (1926- ) is appointed to the Senate of Canada. October 2000 - Famous Five monument is unveiled . It is located near the Senate entrance of the Canada's Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario. 2000 - Employment Insurance benefits are expanded to allow payments for up to a year for natural and adoptive parents. 2000 - The Chief of the Maritime Staff of the Canadian Forces announces that women may now serve in submarines. Source "Women throughout Canadian military history." in Canadian Forces Personnel Newsletter Issue 2/05 23 February 2005. *2000 - Margaret Atwood* wins the coveted BOOKER Prize in literature for her book The Blind Assassin. 2000 - National Nursing History Collection is established in agreement with the Canadian Nurses" Association, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum and the National Archives of Canada. Source : Canadian Nurses Foundation online (accessed June 2004) 2000 - Television advertisements for birth control pills appear for the first time. Source : Canuck Chicks and Maple Leaf Mamas : women of the Great White North by Ann Douglas Toronto, McArthur and Co., 2002. 2000 - Shawandithit (ca 1801-1829) is designated a National Historic Person by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. 2000 - Maryann Elizabeth Francis is the first woman appointed as Ombudsman for Nova Scotia. ^{Source: Office of Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor online. Accessed June 2011.} Deaths 2000: 2000 - Died Mary Belle Barclay (1901-2000) co- founder of hostelling in North America. January 22, 2000- Died Anne Hébert (1916-2000) award winning poet, playwright , and novelist. February 21. 2000 - Died Violet Archer (1913-2000) musician and award winning composer. March 2, 2000 - Died Sandra Schmirler (1963-2000), World and Olympic Champion curler. March 9, 2000 - Died Jean Coulthard (1908-2000) Composer and educator awarded the Order of Canada. April 30, 2000 - Died Doreen Paterson Reitsma (1927-2000) one of the first women to join the Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Navy May 6, 2000 - Died Mary Evangeline Percy Jackson (1904-2000) pioneering medical doctor on the prairies. November 29, 2000 - Died Carol Bolt (1941-2000) Canadian playwright
2001	2001 - Women in the Canadian armed services are permitted to serve in submarines. Source: Women in the Military. The Canadian Encyclopedia Online http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com 2001 - The Hon. Iona Campagnolo (1932- ) is the first woman Lieutenant-Governor of the province of British Columbia. Source: British Columbia Federation of Labour. http://bcfed.com/issues/women/history 2001 - Statistics Canada, when factoring both paid and unpaid work loads, reveals that a typical Canadian woman outworks a typical Canadian many by 80 hours a year. Source : Canuck Chicks and Maple Leaf Mamas : women of the Great White North by Ann Douglas Toronto, McArthur and Co., 2002. pg. 21 April 30, 2001 - The National Council of Women is declared an organization of National Historic Significance by the Government of Canada. Source: NCW website (accessed 2010) 2001 - Roberta Jamieson (1953- ) is the first woman elected Chief of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ontario. Source: Roberta Jamieson: Chief Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Contemporary Canadian Biographies. Thompson Gale, August 2003. (Accessed online June 2008.) 2001 - Carrie Serwetnyk (1965- ) international soccer star is inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame. Source: Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame Accessed March 2007. 2001 - The population of Canada is 30.75 with 250,000 immigrants arriving this year. The overall birthrate is declining. *2001 - Flores Le Due, (1883-1951) World Champion Trick and Fancy Rider ( first of three titles was won in 1912) is inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, the only Canadian resident to be inducted. Deaths 2001:* March 8, 2001 - Died Frances Marr Adaskin (1900-2001) pianist. April 2001 - Died Hilda May Cameron Young ( 1912-2001) Olympic Medal winner in Track and Field in 1936. May 13, 2001 - Died Evelyn Blankstein (1913-2001) Architect. August 3, 2001 - Died Jessie Anne Buckingham (1906-2001) teacher and volunteer.
2002	2002 - Canadian Women's Hockey Team wins Olympic Gold! December 1, 2002 - World Aids Day. Women make up 50% of the 42 million people in the world infected with HIV-Aids. Source: CBC (Accessed November 26, 2002) 2002 - "Ruthie" Lucie Blackburn (1804-1895) and her husband, former slaves who escaped to Canada are declared Persons of National Historic Significance by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. ^{Source: 100 more Canadian heroines by Merna Forester (Dundurn , 2011)} 2002 - Mary and Henry Bibb were declared Persons of National Historic Significance by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 2002. Mary is considered the first black woman journalist in Canada. ^{Sources: Section15.ca ; Merna Forster 100 more Canadian Heroines; Famous and Forgotten Faces (Toronto; Dundurn Press, 2011.} Deaths 2002: February 14, 2002 - Died Charlotte M. Ayotte Chaput (????-2002) community volunteer in Winnipeg. March 5, 2002 - Died Elsie Bear (1921-2002) social activist March 27, 2002 - Dorothy Davies ( -2002) Radio actress, script writer and director of radio programs and member B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame. May 11, 2002 - Died Louise Marguerite Renaude Lapointe (1912-2002) politician July 12 , 2002- Died Dorothy Macham. (1910-2002) WW ll veteran Nurse and nursing administrator July 18, 2002 - Died Jean Bessie Lumb (1919-2002) social activist for the Canadian Chinese community and Order of Canada October 3, 2002 - Died Julie Frost ( -2002) pioneer in the Broadcaster Hall of Fame. November 26, 2002 - Died Isabel McLaughlin (1903-2002) early modernist painter. November 29, 2002 - Died Mary L. Richmond (1920-2002) teacher of nursing and nursing history advocate. December 10, 2002 - Died Ruth Gorman (1914-2002) lawyer and Officer of the Order of Canada
2003	*2003 - Lieutenant-Commander Marta Mulkins* is the first woman to serve as a captain of a Canadian warship, the HMCS Summerside. Source "Women throughout Canadian military history." in Canadian Forces Personnel Newsletter Issue 2/05 23 February 2005. 2003 - Master Seaman Colleen Beattie of the Canadian Navy is the first woman to qualify as a sub Mariner. Source "Women throughout Canadian military history." in Canadian Forces Personnel Newsletter Issue 2/05 23 February 2005. October 1, 2003 - Canada Post issues a set of commemorative stamps honouring Canadian Astronauts including Roberta Bondar (1945- ), the first Canadian woman in space, and Julie Payette (1963- ) , the first Canadian woman to visit the Space Station. *2003-2005 Kim Campbell* (1947- ) is president of the International Women's Forum, a global organization of women of significant and diverse achievement. *2003 - Roberta Bondar* (1945- ) is recognized by TIME magazine as one of Canada's five best explorers. Source :Roberta Bondar official web site (accessed 2006) *2003 - Roberta Bondar* (1945- ) is inducted into the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame. Source Roberta Bondar official web site (accessed 2006) 2003 - The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is created and *Mary Travers (La Bolduc)* (1894-1941) is one of the first five popular song composers inducted. 2003 - Yonah Martin (1965- ) co-founds the non profit organization Korean Canadian C3, a community organization of volunteers who embrace cultural diversity and bridge Canadian Communities by providing cultural education and volunteer resources. Source: C3society.ogr (accessed December 2011) February 2003 - Eaton's department store, once a cornerstone of the city of Winnipeg is torn down. Deaths 2003 : January 20, 2003 Died Marie Bonin (1932-2003) Manitoba nurse. July 10, 2003 - Died Zahra Kazeml (1949-2003) murdered photographer and documentalist. July 16, 2003 - Died Carol Shields (1935-2003) award winning author. July 31, 2003 - Died Barbara Smucker (1915-2003) noted children's author. September 5, 2003- Died Gisele Mackenzie (1927-2005) accomplished violinist, singer and star of TV and the movies. November 4, 2003 - Died Sharon Capeling-Alakija ( 2003) Canadian Social Activist who helped people around the world. November 30, 2003 - Died Muriel Flexman (1912-2003) journalist and first woman to work at Canadian Press December 2003- Died Mary "Bonnie" Baker (1919?- 2003) member of the All American Girls Baseball League. December 9, 2003 - Died Sylvia Gelber (1910-2003) feminist and Canadian UN Delegate
2004	January 2004 - The RT. Hon. Kim Campbell (1947- ) is appointed Secretary General of the Club De Madrid , an organization with which she was a founding executive member, that is dedicated to democracy in the world. Source: Club de Madrid Kim Campbell (accessed January 2006) June 2004 - the Media Club of Ottawa celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Women's Press Club with a conference and a play "One Hundred Years of Daring : Day One" by Rosaleen Dickson. 2004 - Mary Ann Burdette is elected as first woman Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion. Source: Legion acclaims Dominion President… June 15, 2004 (accessed June 2007) 2004 - Bonnie Sherr Klein (1941 ) is awarded the Governor’s General Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case recognizing outstanding contributions to quality of life for women in Canada. Source. Library and Archives Canada. Bonnie Sherr Klein: Canadian women in film. Celebrating Women’s Achievements. (accessed June 2006) This site includes an extensive bibliography. 2004 - Lori-Ann Muenzer (1966- ) wins Canada first gold medal in Cycling at the Olympic Games, Athens, Greece. 2004 - Lori-Ann Muenzer (1966- ) is Female Athelete of the Year (Canadian Press& Broadcast news) 2004 - Helen Shaver (1951- ) is added to Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario. December 26, 2004 - One of the world's worst disasters, an earthquake and tsunami kills 100,000 people in Asia including Sri Lanka, and India. 2004 - Mary Electra Adams (1823- 1898) is declared a National Historic Person by the Canadian Government. Deaths 2004: 2004 - Died Beatrice Ford Watts.(1932-2004) first Inuit woman to qualify as a teacher in Labrador. January 24, 2004 Died Reva Brooks (1913-2004) pioneer photographer. March 1, 2004 - Died Doreen Wicks (1935-2004) Social activist and holder of the Order of Canada. March 25, 2004 - Died Claudia Myrna Bowman (1932-2004) Lawyer, judge and feminist. April 14, 2004 - Died Micheline Charest (1953-2004) business woman in animation industry. May 2004 - Died Winnie Roach-Leuszler (1926-2004) acclaimed international swimmer who was the first Canadian woman to swim the English Channel. July 12, 2004 - Died Betty Oliphant (1918-2004) founder of the National Ballet School of Canada. August 8, 2004 - Died Fay Wray, (1907-2004) actress who is best remembered as playing oposite the ape in the movie, King Kong. October 15, 2004 - Died Shirley Burnham Elliott (1916-2004) Legislative librarian for Nova Scotia and author of the Nova Scotia Book of Days. October 22, 2004 - Died Cathy Kerr (1951-2004) social activist for the disabled November 13, 2004 - Died Ellen Louks Fairclough. (1905-2004) Hamilton, Ontario. First woman to be appointed to the federal Canadian cabinet. December 2, 2004 - Died Margaret Fane Rutledge (1914-2004) Pioneer aviator and member of the British Columbia Aviation Hall of Fame. December 15, 2004 - Died Alma Duncan (1917-2004) artist December 16, 2004 - Died Agnes Martin (1912-2004) one of the world's foremost abstract painter. December 26, 2004 - Died June Kander (1927-2004) educator and humanitarian. December 31, 2004 - Died Lucille Johnstone (1924-2004) entrepreneur and volunteer social worker who is in the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada.
2005	January 8, 2005 - Genevieve Simard wins Silver and Allison Forsythe wins bronze medal in Women's Giant Slalom in World Cup at Santa Caterina. Source: Ottawa Citizen. February 24, 2005 - a new play opens in Winnipeg featuring the life of former Ottawa Mayor, *Charlotte Whitton* (1896-1975). The play, Molly's Vail is written by Sharon Bajer. Source: Ottawa Citizen April 18, 2005 - Time Magazine has selected Canadian author Alice Munro as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Source: Time Magazine May 4, 2005 - The Registrar of Citizenship for the Government of Canada confirmed in Ottawa yesterday that there is no question: War Brides and their children are Canadian citizens. Source: Canadian War Bride online (Accessed May 20, 2005) May 8, 2005 - Canada Post honours Canadian War Brides with a Commemorative envelope. Source: Canadian War Brides online (Accessed May 20, 2005) May 16, 2005 - Ontario Legislature passes 'Sabrina's Law' in memory of *Sabrina Shannon,* a 13 year old Pembroke girl who died after eating french fries from her school cafeteria. The law will force Ontario schools to develop a policy for students with potentially life-threatening allergies. Source; Ottawa Citizen May 17, 2004. May 16, 2005 - Chantal Petitclerc is honoured with the 2005 Laureus world sport award for the top sportsperson with a disability. June, 2005 - Actress Fay Wray (1907-2004) and singer Alanis Morissette are inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. June 9, 2005 - Male university professors better paid than female colleagues . Statistics Canada reports that the difference in salaries averages S17, 575.00. Source: Ottawa Citizen June 10, 2005 Pg A9. June 16, 2005 - A caring profession : Centuries of Nursing in CanadalUne histoire de coeur:Des siécles de soins infirmieres au Canada is a major exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization that helps to mark the centennial of the Canadian Nurses Association. summer 2005 - Vicki Keith Munro, (1961- ) retired marathon swimmer, "Queen of the Great Lakes" comes out of retirement to swim again to raise the awareness and funding for children with disabilities. August 4, 2005 - the Government announces the name of the new 27th Governor Michaelle Jean (1957- ) award winning journalist, broadcaster and humanitarian. Source web page of the Governor General www.gg.ca (accessed March 2007) September 27, 2005 - Michaelle Jean (1957-) award winning journalist and broadcaster is invested as Canada's 27th and first Afro-Caribbean Governor General. Source web page of the Governor General www.gg.ca (accessed March 2007) December 19, 2005 - Staff Inspector Jane Wilcox is the 1st woman Unit Commander of the Sex Crimes Unit of the Toronto Police Force. Source: Herstory: Milestones in the History of the Toronto Police Service Women Online Accessed June 2011. 2005 - Urszula Torarska ( 1963- ) is the first Canadian woman to successfully scale the seven tallest mountain peaks in the world. ^{Sources: Herstory: the Canadian Women’s Calendar 2007 Coteau Books, 2006 page 80: www.everstnews.com /everst2005/ … accessed June 2011.} 2005 - Sheila Watt-Cloutier (1953- ) environmental activist for the world's indigenous peoples, is awarded the Norwegian SOPHIE Award. 2005 - Canadian Women are nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 1000 women of Peace Project. Akua Benjamin (Nominated) Deaths 2005: 2005 - Died- Ruth Wilson (1919-20010 Ruth Wilson, basketball player. January 5, 2005 - Died Madeleine Hinchey (1922-2005) former secretary general to the National Research Council January 7, 2005 - Lois Hole (1929-2005) Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. February , 2005 - Died Mae Harmon (1921 ? - 2005) social activist for seniors. March 2005 - Died Terry Litovitz (1949-2005) an accounting teacher who was concerned for her students. March 21, 2005 - Died Evelyn Horne (1907-2005) Caring Canadian Award recipient. April 7, 2005- Died Yvonne Vera award winning author. April 10, 2005 - Died Marilyn Levine (1935-2005) artist and sculptor. April 14, 2005 - Died Margaret Allemang (1914-2005) advocate of Canadian nursing history. April, 19, 2005 - Died Bertha Baumann (1916-2005) leading nurse in St Boniface, Manitoba. April 25, 2005 - Died Kay Martin Snelgrove (1921-2005) heroine spy and code runner during World War ll. April 27, 2005 - Died Christine McCall (1935-2005) journalist, author and biographer of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. May 4, 2005 - Died Saida Gerrard (1913-2005) in the 1930's she made significant contributions to modern dance in Canada. May 9 , 2005- Died Dorothy Thomas (1938-2005) feminist and community social activist. May 22, 2005 - Died Sheila Agnes Egoff (1918-2005) librarian, award winning expert in Children's literature. July 28, 2005 - Died Charlotte Bastien (1913-2005) Librarian and private secretary to National Librarian Guy Sylvester. July 23, 2005 - Died Edith Firth (1927-2005) librarian, bibliographer and author. August 15, 2005 - Died Gladys Strum (1906-2005) first woman to be president of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F. ) and first woman to head any Canadian political party Political party September 2005 - Died Ethel Weiss Auster (1942-2005) Librarian September 5 , 2005- Died Elaine Gottschall ( -2005) she studying nutritional biochemistry & cellular biology & published her findings for others to use. September 7, 2005 - Died Cynthia Jean Durance (1940-2005) Librarian who worked at the National Library of Canada. September 7, 2005 - Died Mary Elizabeth Bayer (1921- 2005) pioneer of daytime television programming in Manitoba October 6, 2005 - Died Doris Clark Ludwig (1905-2005) a social worker by education she became a journalist in her subject area. December 2005 - Died Mary Eileen Travis (1931-2005) Regional Librarian and first woman on St. John, N.b> Board of Trade. December 31, 2005 - Died Aiko Geraldine Suzuki (1937-2005) a sculptor, painter, printmaker, dance set designer, curator and teacher,.