Women from Our Past

Here are the stories of three women from Canada's past. These women broke new ground and made changes that have shaped our thinking today. All of these women lived in Ontario for some part of their lives. When we were choosing the stories of women from history, most of the stories we found were women who lived in Ontario. This is partly because this is where we live and partly because this is where most people settled in the early days of Canada. We hope that you will discover the stories of women who lived in your region as you do the exercises that follow these women's stories.

As you read through the stories, ask yourself which woman you relate to the most. After the stories you will find some writing ideas.

Mary Ann Shadd (1823-1893)

Mary Ann Shadd was born free in the United States when most Afro-American people were still slaves. She was taught by Quakers for six years. She moved to Windsor, Ontario to set up a private school for the large numbers of escaped slaves and their children who were living there. In those days Blacks were not allowed to go to public schools in Canada. She believed that teaching freed slaves to read and to budget money was the best work she could do. Her students were aged 4 to 45 years.

Mary Ann Shadd started a newspaper called The Provincial Freeman to let others know about the anti-slavery movement and to give a voice to the Black people in Canada. She put the paper under a man's name, since it was unheard of for a woman to own a newspaper. The newspaper helped slaves in the States find out about Canada so they would know where to escape to, if they chose.

Later in life, Mary Ann returned to the United States where she studied law and became the first Black woman to get her law degree. As a lawyer, she often gave her services to the poor for free. She worked hard all of her life to improve the lives of Black people in Canada and the United States.

The Shadd family still lives in southern Ontario and in the United States.