Muriel McQueen Fergusson (1899 to 1997)

Muriel McQueen Fergusson was one of New Brunswick’s most beloved women. Born in 1899 in Shediac Cape, she became a lawyer long before women were accepted in that profession, and soon after, became New Brunswick's first woman to serve as judge of the Probate Court.

Muriel fought for increased participation of women in politics. In 1946, she successfully petitioned for the right of all women in New Brunswick to vote. Shortly after, she challenged the ban on women running for city council in Fredericton, New Brunswick. When no one stepped forward to take advantage of the ban reversal, Muriel ran for alderman and won.

In 1953 she became the first woman senator from the Atlantic region and in 1972 became the first woman to be speaker of the Senate. During her time as speaker, she championed change in the Senate by bringing in young women as pages and insisted on equal pay for women and men in the same staff positions. In 1974, she was sworn to the Privy Council and in 1976 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

The recipient of numerous awards and honourary degrees, Muriel dedicated her life to selfless public service and tireless pursuit of social justice. She passed away in 1997, at 97 years of age.

“I'd think I'd like to be remembered as someone who had something to do with the increasing recognition of the equality of women in New Brunswick, and Canada.”