When Nellie McClung Came To Vermilion

Nellie McClung was one of the most important individuals in Alberta’s history. Not only was she instrumental in Manitoba becoming the first province to allow women to vote in provincial elections, but she did the same in Alberta soon after in 1916.

Later in life, she was one of The Famous Five who brought forward the Persons Case in 1927 that led to women being deemed persons qualified to sit in the Canadian Senate.

Her legacy has been tarnished somewhat with her support of eugenics and the Alberta Eugenics Act that led to the sterilization of over 2,500 people from the 1920s to early-1970s.

But when she came to Vermilion in October 1922, she was greeted enthusiastically by residents of the community.

By this point, she was already very famous across Canada as a suffragist, activist and author.

It was a capacity crowd on Oct. 30 that came to hear her speak. At the time, she was a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton. She was first elected in the 1921 election and would continue to serve until 1926.

In Vermilion on that autumn day in 1922, she gave a lecture called Up to London at the Presbyterian Church. The event was organized by the Ladies Aid Society.

Reverend Frank Chilton was the chair of the meeting, and McClung was given no introduction as she was already very well-known among the residents of Vermilion.

A varied program was carried out that included a performance by the church choir. There were also anthems, duets and solo performances.

In her speech, McClung stated that the time was coming when England would favour prohibition. At the time, Alberta had prohibition in place. It was enacted in 1916 and remained in place until 1924 when Alberta residents voted it down in a referendum.

McClung said in her speech,

“We must wage an unending war against the liquor traffic.”

After a round of applause, the event continued to great success.

McClung then went on her way, ready to continue to make history in Canada.

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