The Nellie McClung Foundation (including founding member Bette Mueller)

The Nellie McClung Foundation began in 2002 with MLA Myrna Driedger, then critic for the Status of Women. She identified Nellie McClung as a significant and yet largely unrecognized contributor to the life of women in this province. She presented a private member’s bill to create a foundation that would erect a monument for Nellie McClung at the Legislature and would serve to educate the public about McClung’s achievements. The bill received unanimous approval in 2003 and was supported by the Manitou-Pembina Cultural and Heritage Committee. Their focus was primarily on Nellie McClung, who had married and taught school in Manitou.

The Nellie McClung Foundation was officially constituted on September 15, 2006. The monument was unveiled in 2010. The Nellie McClung Foundation has also been responsible for a number of other important events.

“Let Them Howl” By Sharon Bajer which has been performed several times.
This play is a replication of the “mock-parliament” that featured Nellie McClung and her peers in the Political Equality League. The performance of the original play was a turning point in the struggle for suffrage.

Centennial Gala: Celebrating 100 Years of Manitoba Women’s Right to Vote
On January 28th, 1916 (some) Manitoba women were the first in Canada to be awarded the right to vote. This was celebrated by over 1000 women at a gala held in 2016. The Nellie Awards recognize the spirit of her life’s work being advanced by women leaders of today. Five rural and five urban recipients received awards at the Centennial Gala.

Curriculum Material & Learning Resources: The Foundation has developed curriculum material and learning resources for teachers and students in grades 6, 9 and 11 classes as general guides and are available on the website.

The Nellie Legacy Awards: The Nellie Legacy Awards are special presentations to individuals who have gone above and beyond for social justice and women’s and human rights. These recipients have devoted their life’s work to advocating equality, societal change and the preservation of human rights. To date, two awards have been presented.

Faces and Places: This book is a walking tour guide of sites that held important women’s stories. It promotes seeing women faces and learning their stories in places which may not have been recognized as having a link to the women who have helped make the history of these places.

150 Trailblazers: Over 350 nominations were received for Manitoba women who have made contributions to developing Manitoba.

The Foundation annually awards Nellie McClung Trailblazer Scholarships for female students considering careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), business, fine arts, or underrepresented trades. It has established Nellie McClung Foundation Endowment Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation. The Nellie McClung Foundation Legacy Award at Universities provides a bursary annually to a woman at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg who is undertaking a program in Political or Women’s Studies.