TIMELINE
Women’s Firsts – Manitoba
1890
By 1890, most women could run for school board. Many early women political figures were active at municipal or school board.
1948
In 1948, Frances Atwell graduated from the University of Manitoba with a B.Sc. in Pharmacy in 1948, thereby becoming possibly the first black pharmacist Winnipeg.
1950
Evelyne Gardener was the first black woman to graduate as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Winnipeg. Later she became an R.N.
1966
Thelma Forbes becomes the first woman Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the second in the Commonwealth, and held the position of first woman cabinet minister from 1966-1973.
1974
Inez Stevenson, First Black Woman elected to a Manitoba school board (Winnipeg No. 1)
1974
Sharon Carstairs was first woman to lead a political party.
1992
Susan Thompson becomes the first female mayor of Winnipeg.
1920
Jessie Kirk became the first woman on the Winnipeg City Council. Edith Rogers became the first woman MLA from Manitoba.
1950s
Joyce Stevenson was mayor of Minnedosa. Flora Cowan served as Alderman in Brandon for 16 years. She was also the first woman deputy mayor of Brandon.
1960
Dr. June Marion James immigrated to Manitoba in 1960 to become the first Black woman admitted to the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Medicine. and the first black woman to receive the Order of Manitoba in 2004.
1962
Violet Einarson was the first woman mayor of Gimli.
1963
Margaret Konantz became the first woman MP for Manitoba.
1971
Jean Folster of Norway House was the first Woman Magistrate and Band chief. Muriel Smith was the first woman to be deputy premier.
1979
Muriel Smith was the first woman to run for leadership of a political party. Pearl McGonigal became the first woman deputy mayor of Winnipeg.
1981
Pearl McGonigal is appointment the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. She becomes the first woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and only the second woman to serve as a viceroy in Canadian history
1989
Sharon Carstairs was the first woman Leader of the Opposition in 1989.
2006
Tina Keeper is the first Aboriginal woman MP.