HISTORY

Agnes spoke her mind and called “BS” when others wouldn’t (or couldn’t). She wasn’t gentle or mild mannered in her speech as was expected of women at the time. Instead, she was direct and pointy. And she needed to be, otherwise her dismissers would have successfully dismissed her (She was often mocked in the papers, for instance, as a “schoolmarm” because she chose to wear the same blue dress).

Agnes was elected in 1921, the first election in which women in Canada were eligible to vote. She campaigned around Grey County in her old car that would frequently break down, and she would continue on foot. Raised on a Grey County farm, she was a strong advocate for farmers, and earned the vote despite of the prejudices against women at the time.

She had radical ideas -including the notion that party politics got in the way of the best people for the job. And she fought hard for underrepresented groups such as women, prisoners and farmers. She earned respect with her tenacity, honesty and wit. She believed that men and women must be treated equally. Agnes took no guff. Studio portrait taken in Ottawa shortly after her election to Parliament in 1921 Photo supplied by The Grey Roots Archival Collection

Robert Iantorno Community & Heritage Curator South Grey Museum (519) 924 - 2843

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