Famous Five Monument

Introduction

The Famous Five monument consists of polished bronze sculptures located in downtown Calgary, Alberta at the south-west corner of Canada Olympic Plaza. It celebrates the accomplishments of Emily Murphy, Henrietta Edwards, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Nellie McClung, collectively known as The Famous Five, in their extensive legal battle in the 1929 ‘Persons’ Case.’ The Famou5 [sic] Foundation (F5F), commissioned three monuments to commemorate the Famous Five on the 70th anniversary of their victory in the ‘Persons’ Case.’ At the time of the monument’s conception, some community members voiced criticism and concerns because the women were associated with the eugenics movement and historic racist social constructions.

The women depicted in the monument were represented at the ‘Pink Tea’ conversation at the home of Emily Murphy in 1925.[1] To achieve victory in their campaign, the women launched an action challenging British Canadian law to include women as ‘persons’ under the context of the law. Victory in Edwards v. Canada, achieved on 18 October 1929, granted women the eligibility for Senate appointments.[2]

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History of Olympic Plaza

Olympic Plaza is one city block in the heart of downtown Calgary. Bordered by Seventh Avenue on the north, Macleod Trail on the east, Eighth Avenue on the south and Centre Street on the west, it has been a fixture in downtown Calgary for thirty years.

Built as the medal podium for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, Olympic Plaza has one unique feature. The brickwork of the plaza consists of thousands of terracotta bricks inscribed with either a donor’s name or an event of the Winter Olympics. The plaza is a site of protests, public memory, and to beat the summer heat in the shallow wading pool or to skate on its frozen surface, enjoying the winter sun.

Many Calgarians do not know the history of Olympic Plaza. While it was built in late 1987 in preparation for the 1988 Games, planning began in 1984 after the Olympic Games were held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

The silver medal winner in the Giant Slalom was a young man from Yugoslavia; the only athlete from that country to win a medal. Calgary Herald journalist Cotton Crosbie was at the Olympics and noted that the level of patriotism from the Yugoslav crowd overwhelmed the national anthem of the gold medalist from Switzerland, providing an inspiring moment for the Calgary Olympic Committee.[3] The officials wanted a place in Calgary to achieve a similar experience and where homegrown athletes could be celebrated. Four years and $5.5 million dollars later, the City of Calgary built Olympic Plaza as a location to honour champions.[4]

Site Selection for the Monument

On July 27, 1998, Calgary City Council approved the F5F plans to build the monument in the west end of Olympic Plaza.[5] Frances Wright, President and Chief of the Foundation stated that “after much consideration, we decided we like that site because of its accessibility and visibility. It's close to the Stephen Avenue Mall and has a maximum amount of open space around it."[6] In a July 22, 1998 meeting, Jack Perraton approved the location of the building. He stated, “like most Calgarians, I go to Olympic Plaza frequently. It’s where we celebrate our successes and dream of the other challenges.”[7] Despite the popularity of the location, debates raged because of the proposed building development at the west end of Olympic Plaza along Centre Street. When the F5F first proposed Olympic Plaza as a possible site in 1997, they were challenged by a Calgary developer who wanted to "free up space for a convention centre expansion by moving the 88-year-Crown Building... to the edge of Olympic Plaza."[8]

Above: Panoramic view of the Monument; Photo Credit: Caprice Robinson. Used with permission.

Wright viewed the relocation of the Crown Building as unacceptable because it would overshadowing the monument. She also wanted to ensure that the Calgary monument had an “equally prominent dignified site” as the planned Famous 5 monument on Parliament Hill.[9] She stated that the building "wouldn’t give them enough dignity for the space provided.”[10] Over Wright's objection, various building plans circulated in the following months. In March 1998, plans included a place for public activities, a building for public and private uses, a convention centre which would incorporate the Crown Building's facade and the building of the Famous Five statue.[11] Ultimately, the F5F located the monument on another corner of the park so it would not be overshadowed. Wright was still not impressed by the new position of the monument, now located south-east of Teatro Restaurant, due to the relocation of the Crown building at the west end of Olympic Plaza.

Artistic Competition

Above: Artist rendition of the monument. Artist: Connor McIntyre. Used with permission.

The F5F held a competition in late 1997 to choose the monument that would commemorate the Famous Five. The maquettes -- miniature versions of statues -- created by the three finalists were displayed at Wallace Galleries, located on 5th AVE SW, for public consideration. The three finalists were:

Mary-Ann Liu, Mission, B.C.: Liu highlighted the power and strength of women by placing them in a circle. She also used books to represent the period and a newspaper with the original headline from when the Privy Council decision was announced. This was intended to draw viewers attention to the ‘Persons’ Case.’[12]

Helen Granger Young, Winnipeg: Young focused on the detail of the women's dresses, with the most crucial aspect being her inclusion of a Temperance Ribbon pinned to each of their chests "because it was part of what they believed in.”[13]

Barbara Paterson, Edmonton: Paterson depicted the five women on Emily Murphy's veranda at tea time. According to Wright, Paterson’s sculpture was people’s favorite. Paterson stated, "These women met over tea to talk and sign the petition. So with my sculpture, Emily Murphy and I are inviting the public to come and have tea with the Famous Five.” With the newspaper in Murphy’s hand, Paterson referenced the moment when they read the British Privy Council's 1929 decision that women are “Persons.” Their position in a semi-circle symbolized a feeling of togetherness and unity for all women. The figures are arranged so that the viewer can see at least one of their faces from any angle. Paterson provided realistic detail so that viewers will remember who each of the women were.[15]

On October 16, 1997, The Foundation announced that Paterson was the winner.

Above: Maquette of Barbara Patterson's winning sculpture. Photographer Marc Mennie; Sculptor Barbara Patterson. Source: Famous5 Foundation. Used with permission.

Controversy Over the Creation of the Monument

From 1997-1999, Calgarians shared opinions regarding the monument and how to remember the Famous Five. Ann Calvert, Assistant Dean of the University of Calgary's Fine Arts Department, supported the monument for its educational purposes. She viewed the statue as “a teaching resource, a historical resource and a legacy.” The intent was to demonstrate the Famous Five as a source of inspiration for young women.[16] Other Calgarians such as journalist Hal Joffe questioned whether the Famous Five were the best role models for young women. In his article, "Flawed Record Follows Revered Famous Five" in the Calgary Herald, Joffe emphasized Emily Murphy's views on race and eugenics, linking those views to the implementation of the Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act in 1928. He did not denigrate the importance of the ‘Persons’ Case’ but rather questioned whether a monument of the Famous Five was appropriate. He believed Calgary should commemorate the 'Persons' Case,' not the Famous Five. Joffe stated:

"it is important to celebrate the victory in the Persons’ Case’ and the advancement of women's issues in Canada. One way to do that would be to have a more representative number of women appointed to our Senate. Another appropriate way... is to create a unique monument on Parliament Hill, in Calgary... But it would be totally inappropriate if that monument contained a larger-than-life visage of Emily Murphy."[17]

Opinions were mixed about the relevance of the Famous Five for the monument in Calgary in the late 1990s. The F5F depicted these women as hardworking, determined people who changed Canada for the better. In its proposal, the F5F outlined that the monument aimed to “epitomize the best of Canada.”[18] However, the legacy of the Famous Five monument carried both positive and a negative connotations. While the women themselves worked to advance women’s rights to vote and eligibility to sit within the Senate, they were all active participants in the eugenics movement as well as Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

In the 1920s, eugenics proponents believed that they were improving humanity. Murphy and McClung contributed articles to magazines and newspapers that endorsed the racism of eugenics that separated by people by race and argued for the advantages of one group over another. In the 1920s and 30s, eugenics was a prevailing and popular “scientific” theory that aimed to eliminate mental disabilities from society through the use of forced sterilization. In a Calgary Herald article, Peter Menzies confronted this past, writing about how the F5F focused on the accomplishments of the Famous 5 and situate their vies in the context of the 1920s. Menzies mentioned, however, that the effects of the eugenics movement was still present sixty years later.[19]

Due to the controversial legacy of the Famous Five, there was criticism. Aboriginal communities and Asian heritage groups took issue with the construction of the monument. The members of the National Action Committee (NAC) felt that the Famous Five represented the narrow demographic of able-bodied Caucasian women, omitting the much larger demographic of women. The president of the NAC stated, "We find it quite offensive because yes, these so-called 'Famous Five’ advanced women's rights, but it was done in a very partial way, in a racist way, in a classist and ableist way.”[20]

The foundation attempted to demonstrate that the Famous Five were able to achieve their aims because they fought their legal battle in a way suitable for the contemporary period. If they had tried to include all Canadian women, the motion would have failed. Frances Wright recognized that the ideas that the women shared were appropriate in their time period, but not today.[21] Dr. Munira Jivraj, a prominent member of a Ismaili community in Calgary, stated that because the Famous Five fought the legal battle the way they did, they won rights for all women in the end, and not just white women. Dr. Jivraj claimed that, "people have realized that multiculturalism and pluralism is a strength. But at the time of the Persons’ Case, they thought differently. The women of the Famous Five were very white-oriented. In the end, though, they fought for us all. Seventy years later, it doesn't make a difference."[22]

Above: First page of the Sexual Sterilization Act. Source: http://knoweugenics.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/en56ngnhad.jpeg. Public Domain.

The Unveiling of the Monument to the Present

Above: Gratitude panel located at the monument in Calgary. Source: Michelle Bannister. Used with permission.

In honour of the 70th anniversary of the ‘Persons’ Case,’ the monument was unveiled on the afternoon of October 18, 1999. Several distinguished guests and speaker were on hand for the unveiling. Once the ceremony had concluded, their Excellencies were then invited to take the first seat in Emily [Murphy’s] chair.[23]

As a thank you to those who contributed, a panel was commissioned to commemorate their efforts (left).

The monument has been a site of protest since the dedication. On October 18, 2016, a collaborative effort by the F5F and the design agency Critical Mass brought the Famous 5 Monument to life.[24] The campaign promoters hoped to connect the struggle for gender equality with a younger, social media-driven population.[25] The campaign #womenbelong sought to break the stereotypes of women’s roles in society. Aside from the statues of the five women who stood for women’s rights in the 1920s, two large posters displayed two stereotypical roles for women: a kitchen-working housewife and a mother. This campaign’s message was that while some women might enjoy being in the kitchen and rearing children, they also had the choice to create a work-home balance. Both models used in this campaign were highly accomplished women within their respected fields. This campaign urged acceptance of women's choices regarding work and family.

The overall appearance of Olympic Plaza, however, has degraded. The once-celebrated plaza has now become a permanent hangout for homeless men and women, littered with trash. There has been an attempt to revitalize the area which has brought the Teatro restaurant as well as the Epcor Centre for Performing Arts.

The significance of this monument has been lost to many Calgarians. While it is a interesting piece of public art, the monument purpose is more obscure. For the purposes of this project, we conducted a brief, anonymous survey in Olympic Plaza about the monument. In a initial survey of 100 people, only three people (3 percent) knew the significance of the monument.

One individual described the monument as “a group of old ladies.” A group of graduating Bow Valley College students posed with the statues and used Emily Murphy’s chair and Louis McKinney’s statue as convenient coat racks. While the sample from this survey was small, the results demonstrate that the significance of The Famous Five has faded from the collective memory of many Calgarians. Yet, these five women took on the largest Empire in the world at the time and won their case. People have reinterpreted the meaning of the monument and will continue to do so with each new generation.

Contributors: Connor McIntryre, Nadia van Asselt, Michelle Bannister, and Caprice Robinson.

Above: 360 degree video of the monument. Source: Caprice Robinson. Used with permission.

References

[1] “Listen Up, It’s Tea Time,” Famous 5 Foundation, last modified Oct 19, 2015 http://www.famou5.ca/news/2015/10/19/listen-up-its-tea-time

[2] Marshall Tabitha and David A. Cruickshank. "Persons’ Case." In The Canadian Encyclopedia, last Modified February 8, 2006 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/persons-case/

[3] Calgary Herald, “The Olympic Plaza.”

[4] Calgary Herald, “The Olympic Plaza.”

[5] Monte Stewart and Dave Pommer, “Five Get Their Spot,” Calgary Herald, July 28, 1998, Canadian Newsstream, ProQuest.

[6] Dave Pommer, “Famous Five Site OK Sought: New Building Urged For Olympic Plaza Activities,” Calgary Herald, July 23, 1998, Canadian Newsstream, ProQuest.

[7] SPC Meeting Comments, 22 July 1998, Olympic Plaza - West End Plan, Famous Five Foundation, Glenbow Museum, M9059, File #38, Box 5.

[8] Jeff Adams, “Famous Five Foundation Opposes Building Relocation,” Calgary Herald, July 10, 1997, Canadian Newsstream, ProQuest.

[9] Fax Re:West End Olympic Plaza Design Study, 8 Dec 1997, Famous Five Foundation, Glenbow, M9059, File #38, Box 5.

[10] Adams, “Famous Five Foundation Opposes Building Relocation,” Calgary Herald.

[11] Dave Pommer, “Olympic Plaza Plans May Need Private Partner,” Calgary Herald, March 07, 1998, Newsstream, ProQuest.

[12] Knapp, “In Honor of Alberta’s Famous Five,” Calgary Herald.

[13] Knapp, “In Honor of Alberta’s Famous Five,” Calgary Herald..

[14] Knapp, “In Honor of Alberta’s Famous Five,”Calgary Herald.

[15] “News Release,” Monument Project Background Document and Headlines, 1997, Famous 5 Foundation, Glenbow Archives, M-9059, File 26, Box 3.

[16] Shelley Knapp, “Monument’s Location Set On Monday,” Calgary Herald, Sept 20, 1997, Newsstream, ProQuest.

[17] Hal Joffe, “Flawed Record Follows Revered Famous Five,” Calgary Herald, Feb 21, 1998, Newsstream, ProQuest

[18] F5F Monument Vision,” Monument Project Background Document and Headlines, 1997, Famous 5 Foundation, Glenbow Archives, M-9059, File 26, Box 3.

[19] Peter Menzies, “It’s Wrong to Excuse Murphy’s Beliefs about Race: There’s No Question That She Advanced the Cause of Women, but Those Actions Must be Weighed Against her Less Savory Views,” Calgary Herald, May 06, 1998, Newsstream, ProQuest.

[20] Sabitri Ghosh, “Monumental Questions: The Human Rights Legacy of the Famous Five,” The Catholic Times, 23 no. 25, (1999): 2.

[21] Ghosh, “Monumental Questions,” 2.

[22] Ghosh, “Monumental Questions” 2.

[23] “Women Are Persons” Monument Unveiling Schedule, 18 Oct 1999, “Women are Persons” Unveiling of Famous 5 Monument Oct 18,199 Includes Schedules, Bios Of Dignitaries, Monument Funders, Famous 5 board, Famous Five Foundation, Glenbow Museum, M9059, File #44, Box 5.

[24] “Critical Mass and Famous Five Foundation Show #womenbelong for Persons Day 2016,” para. 1, Famou5 Foundation, last modified Oct 18, 2016, http://www.famou5.ca/news/2016/10/24/critical-mass-and-famous-5-foundation-show-womenbelong-for-persons-day-2016.

[25] “Critical Mass,” para. 1.

For Further Reading

Cavanaugh, Catherine and Susanna Mcleod. "Irene Parlby." In The Canadian Encyclopedia, edited by Catherine Cavanaugh and Tabitha Marshall. Last Modified November 14, 2016.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mary-irene-parlby/

“Critical Mass and Famous Five Foundation Show #womenbelong for Persons Day 2016.” Famou5 Foundation. Last modified October 18, 2016,

http://www.famou5.ca/news/2016/10/24/critical-mass-and-famous-5-foundation-show-womenbelong-for-persons-day-2016.

Famou5 Foundation - Calgary http://www.famou5.ca/

Famous 5 Foundation, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB.

Ghosh, Sabitri. “Monumental Questions: The Human Rights Legacy of the Famous Five.” The Catholic Times 23, no. 15, (1999): 10-11.

Hallett, Mary E.. "Nellie Mcclung." In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Last Modified July 14, 2015. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nellie-letitia-mcclung/

Jackel, Susan. "Emily Murphy." In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Last Modified August 28, 2015.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/emily-murphy/

“Listen up, it’s tea time.” Famou5 Foundation. Last modified Oct 19, 2015. http://www.famou5.ca/news/2015/10/19/listen-up-its-tea-time

Sabitri Ghosh, “Monumental Questions: The Human Rights Legacy of the Famous Five,” The Catholic Times, 23 no. 25, (1999): 2.

Silverman, Eliane Leslau. "Henrietta Edwards." In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Last Modified November 10, 2018.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/henrietta-louise-edwards/

Silverman, Eliane Leslau. "Louise Mckinney." In The Canadian Encyclopedia, edited Susanna Mcleod. Last Modified October 31, 2018.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/louise-mckinney/

Tabitha Marshall and David A. Cruickshank. "Persons’ Case." In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Last Modified February 8, 2006.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/persons-case/

Header Photo Credit: Famou5 Foundation. Used with permission.

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