Through educational curriculums and commemorative projects, our Legacy Programs work to ensure the story of the Famous 5 is told and celebrated. 

‘Persons’ Day

Each year since 2009, when the Famous 5 women were posthumously named as Honorary Senators, the Famous 5 Foundation has hosted a ‘Persons’ Day celebration on October 18 that commemorates the Famous 5 and honours female leaders of the past, present and future. Gathering at the Women Are Persons! Monument in Olympic Plaza in Calgary, singer/songwriter Carolyn Harley (Ballad of the F5 & Spirit of the F5) has been our featured performer with Chantal Stormsong Chagnon bringing a stirring Land Acknowledgement.  

$50 Bank Note 

From 2004–2012, the Famous 5 were celebrated on the $50 bill, becoming the first identifiable women—with the exception of the Queen—to appear on Canadian currency. 

The bill depicted the F5 triumphantly celebrating the 1929 Privy Council of Great Britain’s decision to officially redefine the word ‘persons’ to always include both women and men! Thus women became ‘persons’! The bill was aptly launched on October 18, 2004 - the 75th anniversary of the victory of the ‘Persons’ Case!

The ‘Persons’ Case was a landmark ruling which recognized the equality of women in Canadian society, and throughout the entire British Commonwealth. The decision enabled women to participate in all facets of public life, including being appointed to the Senate. 

F5 Curriculum

The Famous 5 Foundation worked with the Departments of Education across Canada to ensure that the history of the Famous 5 was included in social studies school curriculums. Launched in the fall of 2007, the new Western Protocol for Social Studies now has a component dedicated to chronicling the lives and achievements of the five visionary Albertan women who have become known, simply, as the Famous 5. 

The Monument - Women are persons!"

To commemorate the Famous 5 and to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the ‘Persons’ Case, the Famous 5 Foundation commissioned and installed larger-than-life bronze monuments in Calgary’s Olympic Plaza and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa - the latter happening on October 18, 2001. 

The F5F and the women of Canada will be forever grateful to these outstanding monument donors - Ann, Roxanne & Jane McCaig; Lena Ann Hanen; Kiki Delaney, Senator Vivienne Poy; and Heather Reisman.  

Five contributions of $200,000 covered the costs of the monument and remain the largest donations made by women to a women’s project in Canada and their monuments project remains the largest art installation in Canada!

The artist, Barbara Paterson, was selected by a national jury who was captivated by her depiction of the five women as they hear about their victory. Nellie McClung is shown holding up the October 18 newspaper headline that announces this world-changing news, while Irene Parlby stands beside her. Henrietta Muir Edwards lifts her teacup in a toast to their success, as Louise McKinney excitedly clasps her hands. Emily Murphy, the woman who led their fight, stands beside a chair inviting you to sit with them and to make the best contribution you can to the generation in which you are living.

The first person to sit on Emily’s Chair, October 18, 1999 - Calgary, AB

The first person to sit on Emily’s Chair at the closing of the ceremonies in Calgary on October 18, 1999 was Shawnee Price.

The first person to sit in Emily’s Chair at the closing of the ceremonies on October 18, 2000, in Ottawa was Catherine French, a 10-year-old girl who promoted the F5 for several years at school, in the media, and many other places. Catherine even raised some funds for the F5F.