Honoring the Women Who Paved the Way: A Reflection on International Women’s Day

As I sit here working, I can’t help but feel immense appreciation for the strong women who came before me. I sit in privilege, and yet I still face challenges—challenges that are not without the greater sacrifices my elders have faced and conquered. It is because of strong women like Nellie McClung, Thérèse Casgrain, and Mary Two-Axe Earley that, in the face of being told we were not “persons,” they stood fast and fought for the rights we hold today.

I will never be able to repay them, truly. The only thing I can do is continue to pave the way for my daughter and my fellow sisters. As a writer in a genre dominated by men, I understand the struggle of carving out space in a field that has historically overlooked women. But if the women before me could fight for their voices to be heard, then I, too, must stand firm in establishing my place—not just for myself, but for those who will come after me.

My daughter is considering a career in the Navy, and I hope that one day, she will mark her own path—one that will inspire the next generation of young women to take their rightful place in any field they choose.

A Hard-Fought Right: Women’s Suffrage in Canada

The right to vote was not handed to women—it was fought for. Women in Canada gained the federal vote in 1918, but that victory did not extend to all. While white women were granted suffrage, many marginalized women, particularly Indigenous, Asian, and Black women, remained disenfranchised for decades.

• 1916: Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan became the first provinces to grant women the right to vote in provincial elections.
• 1918: Most Canadian women were granted the right to vote in federal elections—but not Indigenous women.
• 1940: Quebec was the last province to allow women to vote in provincial elections.
• 1960: Indigenous women (and men) were finally granted the right to vote in federal elections without being forced to give up their treaty rights.

The Ongoing Fight for Indigenous Women’s Rights

Even today, our Indigenous sisters remain underrepresented and continue to face systemic barriers. Indigenous women have fought not only for voting rights but also for the right to exist without violence, discrimination, and oppression. Activists like Mary Two-Axe Earley fought against laws that stripped Indigenous women of their status if they married a non-Indigenous man, robbing them of their identity and community ties.

Today, Indigenous women are still fighting for justice, recognition, and equality. The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) is a stark reminder that there is still so much work to be done.

Acknowledging Our Responsibility

As a woman, I recognize the privilege I have today because of the resilience of those who came before me. But privilege comes with responsibility. It is not enough to enjoy the rights we have; we must continue to push forward so that no woman—especially those from marginalized communities—is left behind.

For my daughter, for her daughters, and for all the women still fighting for equality, I will continue to raise my voice. I will continue to write stories with strong, complex female characters because representation matters. I will continue to challenge the norms of my industry because women belong in every space—be it literature, law enforcement, intelligence, the Navy, or any field they choose.

To the women who paved the way: Thank you.
To my fellow women today: Keep pushing forward.
To the next generation: We see you. Your fight is our fight.