Emily Murphy

Emily Murphy is my hero. She and 4 others, (Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby and Louise McKinley,) fought for women’s rights. It was a long and hard battle but they finally won.

Emily Murphy lived from March 14, 1868 until she died on October 27th 1933. Emily Murphy was born in Cookstown, Ontario. She lived in Edmonton, Alberta from 1919 all the way to her death in 1933. She died because of diabetes. She was born Emily Gowan Ferguson.

She met a woman whose husband had left her and their children. He sold the farm. The law did not force him to share the money with his wife. She and the children had no money now. Murphy knew that this law was unfair and not right. She wrote letters, had meetings, protested and spoke to the government to try and change these laws.

Soccer is my favourite sport. She helped give me the right to play. That was not the only right she gave me. When I am old enough I get to vote now. I also get to own money.

Emily is my hero. In the time she lived, she did many great things. I now have the right to do a lot more than I would have if she didn’t do this.