Progressive Club Meeting with Flora McDonald Denison

This menu was circulated to members of the Progressive Club in Toronto with Flora McDonald Denison Chairing the meeting. The meeting was held at the popular Albert Williams Restaurant at 179 Yonge Street...In 'A Synopsis of Woman Suffrage in Canada' by Hilda Ridley the paper mentions Canada's movement for women's suffrage began in Ontario. In March 1883 the Toronto Women's Suffrage Club was formed at City Hall. With some palpitation as she expressed it, Mrs. Donald McEwen found herself in the Mayor's Chair and was shortly thereafter elected as President. Men were eligible for membership in the organization...The Toronto Literary Club was a precursor to the Toronto Women's Suffrage Club. In 1889 the Club enlarged its boundaries and was incorporated for national work under the name of the Dominion Women's Enfranchisement Association (1889-1907) with Dr. Emily Stowe as President...In 1906 a deputation headed by Dr. Stowe-Gullen, Dr. Margaret Gordon, Dr. Margaret Johnston and Mrs. Flora McDonald Denison called on the Mayor and Council of Toronto and petitioned them to pass a resolution for the extension of the municipal suffrage to married women. They agreed however the Resolution was defeated in the Legislature...In 1907 the Dominion Enfranchisement Association had a name change to the Canadian Suffrage Association. Prominent among the workers in the cause of suffrage at this later phase of its history were Mrs. Flora MacDonald Denison, Dr. Margaret Johnston, and Dr. Margaret Gordon. Mrs. Denison besides being an indefatigable worker and organizer found time to contribute each week to the Toronto Sunday World a page on woman suffrage that was of great informative and propaganda value. In 906 she represented the Association at the meetings of the International Women Suffrage Alliance in Copenhagen and again in Budapest in 1913. ..The Progressive Club was one of several organizations that sent a monster deputation to the Parliament Buildings in Toronto on March 24, 1909 to petition the Premier for full suffrage for the women of Ontario. Over 1000 members thronged the corridors and reception room of the House. Mrs. Denison was one of the key speakers who gave a forceful address. No action resulted directly from the demonstration...Many meetings and deputations followed. In 1912 through Mrs. Denison, an interview with Sir Robert L. Borden was secured. The Prime MInister took the stand that each province must enfranchise its women before the Federal Government could act. ..It took until February 17, 1917 before the Ontario Liberals united with the Conservatives to pass a bill for women's rights...Part of the Bon Echo Provincial Park Collection.Note: All CDHS Flickr content is available for the public use (non-commercial) providing our Rights Statement is followed:.pioneer.mazinaw.on.ca/flickr_statement.php ( http://pioneer.mazinaw.on.ca/flickr_statement.php )