Nellie McClung, 1873-1951

“Never retract, never explain, never apologize — get the thing done and let them howl!” These words sum up the verve and determination of this politician and social activist. A devoted feminist, Nellie McClung was instrumental in making Manitoba was the first province to give women the right to vote and run for public office. She also fought for a wide variety of social causes, including medical care for children, women's property rights, factory safety, and many more. McClung was also a member of Emily Murphy’s Famous Five, all of whom were named honorary senators in 2009. Her devotion to changing the sexist laws is summed up in her famous comment about the need for equitable divorce laws: "Why are pencils equipped with erasers if not to correct mistakes?"