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Toronto Star - Ten women who made a difference

Published: 8 March 2011

On the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, Jennifer Hunter of the Star's editorial board selects the 10 most influential Canadian women of the past century…

"I selected those who not only influenced our lives over the past century through their various avocations, but changed the way we think about Canada…"

Included in the list is Rosemary Brown (1930-2003), politician. Brown was born in Jamaica and came to Canada to study at McGill University, intending to become a social worker. She was elected to the provincial legislature in British Columbia in 1972, becoming the first black woman to become an MLA.

She was a determined woman who fought campaigns to increase the number of women as directors of corporations, to eliminate sexism in school textbooks, and to do away with discrimination based on gender or marital status.

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