{"id":3984,"date":"2022-09-27T14:18:15","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T20:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/?p=3984"},"modified":"2025-03-03T08:56:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T14:56:23","slug":"louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/eternal-3984-louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights","title":{"rendered":"Louise McKinney \u2013 A Remarkable Woman Who Helped Canadian Women Secure Many Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Louise McKinney<\/strong> was an Alberta legislator and activist who devoted her life to championing women\u2019s rights. No local woman is unaware of her contributions to society. McKinney is considered one of Canada\u2019s most influential women of the 19th century. More at <a href=\"http:\/\/edmontonka.com\"><strong>edmontonka.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a009490b9927\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #090909;color:#090909\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #090909;color:#090909\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a009490b9927\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/eternal-3984-louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights\/#Childhood_and_Youth\" >Childhood and Youth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/eternal-3984-louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights\/#Early_Career\" >Early Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/eternal-3984-louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights\/#The_First_Church\" >The First Church<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/eternal-3984-louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights\/#The_First_Woman_Elected_to_a_Canadian_Legislature\" >The First Woman Elected to a Canadian Legislature<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/eternal-3984-louise-mckinney-a-remarkable-woman-who-helped-canadian-women-secure-many-rights\/#A_Church_Preacher\" >A Church Preacher<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Childhood_and_Youth\"><\/span><strong>Childhood and Youth<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Louise was born on <strong>September 22, 1868<\/strong>, in Frankville, Ontario, a small village. She was one of seven siblings. Her parents were Methodists. While doing well in school, Louise dreamed of becoming a doctor to help people \u2013 but, unfortunately, circumstances didn\u2019t allow her to enter medical school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After finishing high school in Ontario, she enrolled at university in Ottawa, earning a teaching degree over seven years. With that qualification, she and her sister moved to North Dakota, where she got a teaching position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Early_Career\"><\/span><strong>Early Career<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Louise immersed herself in her job and concurrently became an organizer for the <strong>Woman\u2019s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)<\/strong>. The essence of WCTU was to protect the home from harmful influences and improve the lives of women. An essential aim was winning women the right to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_First_Church\"><\/span><strong>The First Church<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmontonka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2025\/03\/ad_4nxeyexuuwy1w5r2kzk9rpodmfqab4m02nzmazuwronz2lg5owetyi4fqwipp4xiyluuyniveugu4o4rftyq84nem2avib16yx4jbracyewjrfxpfy_qdkobxdonuzjcg9hsopqoqzakeyer6aphfcv63a4l1pqsevuuku.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1903<\/strong>, Louise returned to Canada to farm in the village of Claresholm, later part of Alberta. She resolved to build the village\u2019s first church and to start a local WCTU branch. She also founded WCTU branches across Alberta and Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Louise did more than just arrange WCTU events \u2013 she became a popular speaker who regularly addressed the harm alcohol caused women\u2019s health, while urging women to defend their families and gain the right to vote in federal elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rising swiftly through the ranks, in <strong>1908<\/strong> she became WCTU president. Louise wrote numerous pamphlets appealing to Alberta\u2019s schoolteachers and premiers to highlight the dangers of alcohol and tobacco for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As WCTU President in Alberta, she traveled extensively, speaking to diverse audiences throughout Canada, the U.S., England, and across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At an October 1911 WCTU convention, Louise McKinney called for women\u2019s suffrage. On <strong>April 19, 1916<\/strong>, Alberta women won the right to vote in elections and run for seats in the provincial government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_First_Woman_Elected_to_a_Canadian_Legislature\"><\/span><strong>The First Woman Elected to a Canadian Legislature<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1917<\/strong>, the Alberta Legislature held elections, and Louise\u2019s name appeared on the ballot. She stood as a candidate of the Non-Partisan League. She became the first woman in the British Empire to serve in a legislative assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now a formally recognized member of the provincial parliament, Louise broadened her agenda to include issues important to women: welfare, safeguarding women\u2019s property rights, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Church_Preacher\"><\/span><strong>A Church Preacher<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Louise was also deeply involved in her local church. She was licensed as a lay preacher, supervised Sunday school, and led the church\u2019s <strong>Women\u2019s Missionary Society<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her belief in women\u2019s individuality was paramount. As a lay preacher, she advocated for women to be ordained in the Methodist Church, and later the United Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>1925<\/strong>, the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches merged to form the United Church of Canada. Louise was among four women to sign the agreement bringing about this religious union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, Louise McKinney became Vice President of the <strong>Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire<\/strong>. In <strong>1931<\/strong>, she was chosen as President of the Dominion WCTU. Then, in June of that year, she was made First Vice President of the World Women\u2019s Christian Temperance Union at its Toronto convention. Although Louise continued her tireless service until her death on <strong>July 10, 1931<\/strong>, her time as Vice President was short-lived, as she passed away soon after her appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Louise McKinney was an Alberta legislator and activist who devoted her life to championing women\u2019s rights. No local woman is unaware of her contributions to society. McKinney is considered one of Canada\u2019s most influential women of the 19th century. More at edmontonka.com. Childhood and Youth Louise was born on September 22, 1868, in Frankville, Ontario, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":414,"featured_media":3989,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[2727,2728,2724,2725,2726,2720,2723,2721,2722,2729],"motype":[1016],"moformat":[66],"moimportance":[33],"class_list":{"0":"post-3984","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cvitske-zhittya","8":"tag-edmonton-politician","9":"tag-female-politician","10":"tag-female-preacher","11":"tag-louise-mckinney-biography","12":"tag-louise-mckinneys-career","13":"tag-louise-mckinneys-life","14":"tag-notable-edmontonians","15":"tag-woman-in-power","16":"tag-womens-organization","17":"tag-womens-rights-in-edmonton","18":"motype-eternal","19":"moformat-vlasna","20":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/414"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3984"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3988,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984\/revisions\/3988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3984"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3984"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3984"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmontonka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}