Celebrating Women's History Month

Raising two little ladies, I think it is super important to acknowledge that October is Women’s History Month in Canada, and to teach them about it. I’ve attached a few photos from one of my favourite children’s books, Dream Big, Little One, including the cover and two inside pages, to show a bit of what it includes. I’m featuring the page on Maya Angelou specifically because she is one of my idols and, reportedly, her memoir and Holocaust-related books are among those being pulled from the Val Academy library. I find that particularly disturbing and important to put a spotlight on. Books like this matter. They plant seeds of confidence, compassion, and curiosity in young minds.

I also love how the imagery includes a lot of diversity. When I was young, growing up in a predominantly white community, I didn’t find much visual relatability, so these types of books hit differently on another level too.

The History:

In Canada, October is Women’s History Month, a time to honour the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women and girls who have shaped our country. The month was chosen to mark the anniversary of the Persons Case on October 18, 1929, when the Famous Five successfully fought for women to be legally recognized as “persons” under Canadian law. This landmark decision opened doors for generations of women to participate fully in public life. Each October invites us to reflect on how far we’ve come, to acknowledge the work still ahead, and to celebrate the diverse voices and stories that continue to transform our communities.

I hope this memory and history lives on until the end of time. As the famous quote says, “Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”

-For the record, I can’t fully credit the writer of this quote, as its origin is often disputed, but the message remains just as powerful and relevant today.