Day 10 – The Famous Five and Why Women’s Voices Matter

Today was Day 10 of my Happiness Run for Clean Water and Gender Equality, and it was one of my favorite days yet. I ran 6km along the beautiful Cobequid Trail while my dad biked beside me. As we moved along, my dad started telling me about something I hadn’t really thought deeply about before: a group of Canadian women known as The Famous Five. These women, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby, fought a major legal battle in the 1920s. Their goal was to have women officially recognized as “persons” under Canadian law so that women could be appointed to the Senate.

Can you imagine that? Less than 100 years ago, women in Canada were not even considered legal persons in the eyes of the government. This was shocking to me. It made me realize just how much we’ve taken for granted, and how important it is to keep standing up for the rights of women and girls around the world.

My dad explained that the “Persons Case” wasn’t just a win for Canadian women, it was a huge symbol of progress in the global fight for gender equality. Thanks to the Famous Five, women gained a more equal voice in public and political life. And their courage reminds us that “change happens when people speak up, even when the world tells them to stay quiet.“

So what does this have to do with clean water?

In many parts of the world, including Tanzania, where the funds from my project will go, girls and women still face huge challenges just because of their gender. They often spend hours every day walking to fetch water, which means they miss school, have fewer job opportunities, and are more vulnerable to health issues.

As I’ve noted in past posts, when women don’t have access to clean water, they lose time, safety, and the chance to build their futures. But when they do have access to clean water, and are supported through things like entrepreneurship and education, they thrive. That’s what my project is all about: providing clean water and supporting strong women who can help lead their communities forward.

I kept thinking about the Famous Five while I was running today. They remind me that strong women support strong women. They opened the door so that future generations, like me, can live with more freedom, more choices, and more power to create change.

That’s why I’m running. Not just for clean water, but for the right of every girl to go to school, to lead, and to be seen and heard. Because when women rise, whole communities rise with them.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of voting in advanced polls in my first Canadian Federal Election. Reflecting on the importance of political participation, I am reminded of the global struggle for gender equality in leadership roles. Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Despite this, data indicates that women remain underrepresented at all levels of decision-making globally, and gender parity in political life is still a distant goal.

When I did some research, I learned that according to the UN Women website, as of January 1, 2025, there are 25 countries where 28 women serve as Heads of State and/or Government. At the current rate, it will take another 130 years to achieve gender equality in the highest positions of governmental power.

Interestingly, Tanzania has had a female president since 2021, Samia Suluhu Hassan. Comparing the Canadian and Tanzanian government systems, Canada operates as a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, where the Prime Minister is the Head of Government and the monarch is the Head of State. In contrast, Tanzania is a unitary Presidential Democratic Republic, where the President serves as both Head of State and Head of Government. This difference in governance structures highlights the diverse pathways countries take towards leadership and representation.

Thanks for following along on this journey. Let’s keep running, for water, for equality, and for a future where every person, no matter their gender or where they live, is treated with dignity and respect. Thank you so much for your donations. Every bit helps me move closer to my goal!