AMHERST, N.S. – The role of women in Canadian history is often neglected.
That neglect will be corrected by CFTA Radio in Amherst by highlighting the contributions of Canadian women to Canadian society during Women’s History Month in Canada, which spans the month of October.
“Each of our twenty October episodes will celebrate the life and contributions of a special woman from Nova Scotia," said Amherst’s Dale Fawthrop, whose radio name is Norman Albert Code.
CFTA, along with Autumn House and Cumberland Public Libraries, have developed 20, five-minute episodes featuring those Nova Scotia Women.
The list of women was selected in cooperation with The Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women.
“My radio show deals with Maritime History, and I decided it would be very important to spend the whole month of October dealing with different women from Nova Scotia who made significant contributions throughout their life and their work to our province,” said Fawthrop.
Fawthrop’s radio show runs at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For the month of October, each of his shows will spend the first five minutes airing an episode about Canadian Women.
Also, the life of Ruth Cormier Nichols will be celebrated during each episode by using her song "A Maritime Woman" to introduce each episode.
Before she passed away, Nichols and Fawthrop worked together, along with nine female students from Amherst, to create the musical ‘A Maritime Woman.’
The first episode Women’s History Month episode, on Oct. 1, entitled ‘Intro to Women’s History Month,’ will provide an overview of what is to come for the rest of the month.
Women’s History Month, an Overview
In 1992, the Government of Canada declared October as Women's History Month in Canada to recognize the contributions of women, past and present, from all walks of life, who influenced the development of Canada.
The month of October was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the ‘Persons Case,’ a lengthy legal and political effort by five women which led to Canadian women being officially declared ‘persons’ on Oct. 18, 1929.
"People must know the past to understand the present and face the future,” said Nellie McClung, one of the major players in the ‘Persons Case.’
These women persevered in overcoming challenges and fought for what they believed in, and their efforts have been instrumental in influencing Canadian society, helping to make it more just, equitable and open.
Women’s History Month includes two important commemorative dates for women and girls: International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, and Persons Day on October 18th.
CFTA can be found at 107.9 on the FM dial.
