Nellie McClung was a feminist and social activist during the early 1900s, who was known for her humour-filled speeches, which she delivered across Western Canada. McClung fought for women’s suffrage and was a spokesperson for temperance. She helped women earn the right to vote in four provinces in 1916, a right which all Canadian women have received since. Her advocation for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union served in enacting the Prohibition laws of World War 1, a defining yet problematic event of the era. Although she did not directly challenge traditional family views, Nellie McClung continues to be recognized as Canada’s most famous feminist.
