#agnes macphail

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Agnes MacPhail by Yousuf Karsh

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This red coat with broderi in front is worn two times in Murdoch Mysteries, First worn on Zoe Fraser as Agnes Macphail in Election Day (2015) and later worn on Jeni Ross as Vicky Parsons in Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas (2016)

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SLYTHERIN: “Do not rely completely on any other human being, however dear. We meet all of life's greatest tests alone.” –Agnes Macphail

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“Election Day” also featured a cameo of perhaps one of the most famous female Canadian politicians, Agnes Macphail, played here by Zoe Fraser. Most Canadians might recognize her on the new ten dollar bill. It is natural that Macphail would have an interest in the suffragette movement, considering she would go on to have an extensive career in Canadian politics.   

Agnes Campbell Macphail was born on March 24, 1890 to a Scottish family in Ontario. As a young adult, she would attend the Owen Sound and Vocational Institute for a year, but would transfer to Stratford Normal School, where she graduated in 1910 with a second class teacher’s certificate. She would teach at several schools in more rural areas as opposed to the cities due to the lack of teachers.

Macphail would turn to politics while working in the former village of Sharon, joining the United Farmers of Ontario and its female counterpart, United Farm Women of Ontario. She would also go on to try her hand at journalism, becoming a columnist for the Farmer’s Sun.

Following amendments to the Elections Act by the Conservative federal government at the time, Macphail was elected to the House of Commons in the 1921 federal election, thus becoming the first female MP in the history of Canada. She would continue to be re-elected for the next decade, sadly being defeated in the 1940 federal election.

While in office, Macphail was a member of the now defunct Progressive Party, becoming a voice for rural issues as well as a supporter of penal reform, helping put together a report that would make conditions in Canadian penitentiaries more bearable. She would also go on to form the Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada, which is a non-profit group that still runs today, tackling issues affecting women and girls within the justice system. 

Out of office, Macphail returned to journalism, writing for agricultural columns for The Globe and Mail newspaper in Toronto. 

Macphail passed away at the age of 63 on February 13, 1954.

Interesting facts

- Macphail was also an advocate for senior’s pensions and worker’s rights, as well as helping to pass Ontario’s first equal pay legislation in 1951. 

- She was also the first female delegate in the League of Nations, where she worked with the World Disarmament Committee.

- As Canadians know, Macphail appears on the new 2017 ten dollar bill, which makes her the first woman other than Queen Elizabeth II to have a permanent spot on Canadian currency. 

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Agnes Macphail (1890-1954) was the first female Member of Parliament in Canada. She was elected to the House of Commons in 1921, as a member of the Progressive Party.

She was the first Canadian female delegate to the League of Nations in Geneva. In 1939, she founded the Elizabeth Fry society, which worked on issues affecting women and girls in the criminal justice system.

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HUFFLEPUFF: "I do not want to be the angel of any home; I want for myself what I want for other women, absolute equality. After that is secured, then men and women can take turns at being angels." –Agnes Macphail

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HUFFLEPUFF: “I do not want to be the angel of any home: I want for myself what I want for other women, absolute equality. After that is secured, then men and women can take turns at being angels.” –Agnes Macphail

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"Says That He Didn't Mention Miss Macphail," Kingston Whig-Standard. March 20, 1935. Page 1. --- OTTAWA, March 20 - Inspector Dawson of the Penitentiaries Branch has given his "word of honor" to the minister of justice that he never used abusive and profane language to Convict 3033 regarding Miss Agnes Macphail. M.P., in relation to the latter's Parliamentary efforts to secure penitentiary reforms… Hon. Hugh Guthrie told the House of Commons this afternoon that the inspector "assured me most emphatically that the name of the honorable member for Southeast Grey was never mentioned, and he made no comment concerning her. This statement was made on the word of honor of the inspector."

The minister admitted, however, that he had found that Inspector Dawson had visited Kingston Penitentiary on April 9, as stated by Miss Macphail to "deal with a certain matter" and, at the request of the convict, had interviewed No. 3033. The inspector made no report of the matter. Consequently it was not included in the return tabled by the Minister, which the member for Southeast Grey protested was incomplete. "But," said Mr. Guthrie, "there is no foundation for the report that he made certain aspersions on the honorable member for Southeast Grey."

The minister promised, in response to queries, that the penitentiary estimates would be brought down by the end of the week, or the beginning of next week, and that the Government plans in connection with the establishment of the Borstal system would then be communicated to the House, and could be discussed.