Bust of Nellie McClung

This bust of pioneer feminist Nellie McClung honours her role in Edmonton’s history. She is commemorated on the Heritage Trail portion of the Victoria Promenade alongside Maude Bowman, Abraham Cristall, and Judge Lucien Dubuc. 

Nellie McClung was a novelist, journalist, suffragette and temperance worker. She is remembered as a member of the ​“Famous Five” who successfully challenged the legal definition of persons under the British North America Act in 1927. Their victory in the ​“Persons Case” cleared the way for women enter politics in Canada. McClung was also the first woman on the CBC Board of Governors. 

Originally from Manitoba, Nellie McClung fought for female suffrage, prohibition, dower rights for women, factory safety legislation, and other reforms. McClung was a member of the Alberta legislature as a Liberal MLA for Edmonton (between 1921 – 1926), where her support of forced sterilization for mental health patients contributed to the passage of eugenics legislation in Alberta. This legislation was eventually repealed and the Board dismantled in 1972, but not before over 2,800 forced sterilizations were performed.