Mister Speaker, this year marks the 82nd anniversary of the Persons Case.

In October 1929, a group of resolute and avant-gardist women from the Prairies, today known as the “Famous Five”, won recognition of women’s status as “persons” before the law.

That historic decision reversed the entrenched position that women were not persons and therefore not eligible to be appointed to the Senate.

Today, the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case were presented to five exceptional persons who embody the pioneer spirit of the Famous Five.

I join with all Canadians in congratulating and thanking these women, and all the women working to improve our Canadian communities.