Celebrating the diversity and creativity of exemplary Canadian women

By Justina Kewal

Canadian women have made a tremendous impact on music, literature, art, and film. As we wrap up October’s Women’s History Month celebrations, let us continue to be inspired by the great accomplishments of Canadian women in displaying the diversity of our country and advancing society forward. 

Here are five women that have made an impact on the Canadian arts and culture scene though, there are so many amazing Canadian women that you can learn more about here!  

Buffy Sainte-Marie

When we think of famous Canadian female artists, names like Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, and Shania Twain tend to come to mind. While they all have attained worldwide recognition in the music industry, let us not forget the remarkable contributions that Buffy Sainte-Marie has made –  both as an artist and as an activist. 

Sainte-Marie was born on the Piapot Cree First Nations reserve in Saskatchewan. She began playing in coffee houses in New York City’s Greenwich Village where she attracted attention and became known as one of the1960s best folk artists. Her song Universal Soldier became an especially popular hit. In the song, Sainte-Marie reflects on the individual responsibility of war and why we should not solely blame our leaders for wars. 

Still known as an iconic folk musician, Sainte-Marie continues to use her platform to advocate for Indigenous rights. To connect Indigenous communities across North America, Sainte-Marie founded the Nihewan Foundation for Native American Education which helps Indigenous youth gain the resources, scholarships, and curriculum development needed to participate in the education system.

Joy Kogawa 

Joy Kogawa is a Canadian poet and writer best known for her powerful novel, Obasan. Published in 1981, Obasan recounts the bombing of Pearl Harbor including the persecution and internment camps Japanese Canadians experienced during the Second World War. While this story is told through the perspective of a woman named Naomi remembering her childhood experiences, it is based on Kogawa’s own experiences.

Kogawa was born in Vancouver in 1935 to Japanese immigrant parents. When she was young, her family was uprooted from their home and forced into an internment camp. Kogawa’s novel is not just a reflection on the mistreatment of Japanese Canadians, it also addresses Canada’s dark past.

Kogawa is the author of three novels, seven books of poetry, two children’s books, and a work of nonfiction. Kogawa has also been named a member of the Order of Canada. 

Emily Carr

Emily Carr is regarded as a famous Canadian artist and writer, most admired for her iconic paintings of the West Coast of Canada and breathtaking images of Indigenous culture. She studied in San Francisco and England and also traveled to France in 1910, becoming influenced by the work of the Fauves – French artists who daringly used bright colors. 

Though today Carr is recognized as a great Canadian artist, she received very little recognition for her work during her lifetime. Her lack of success led her to give up on her artistic career and she began to spend her days growing fruit, breeding dogs, and decorating pottery and rugs to sell to tourists. 

It was not until 1927 that Carr met the prominent Canadian painter and Group of Seven founder, Arthur Lismer. Lismer made her an unofficial member of the group, inspiring Carr to continue painting. By the time of her death in 1945, Carr had received recognition for her paintings and earned her place in Canadian history for generations to come.

Lucy Maud Montgomery

You may already know Lucy Maud Montgomery as the widely acclaimed Canadian author and creator of the red-headed orphan, Anne of Green Gables. Montgomery was born in Prince Edward Island and raised by her grandparents. Her childhood was lonely, but Montgomery had an active imagination which she used to create imaginary friends.

She had an outstanding literary career, writing innumerable stories, articles, poetry, non-fiction works, journals, and letters. But it was Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, that was her biggest success and brought Montgomery to international fame. 

Montgomery first wrote Anne of Green Gables in 1905, but after receiving numerous rejections from publishers, she put the book away in a hatbox. The novel finally resurrected in 1907 after she reread the manuscript, sent it out, and got it accepted by the Page Company of Boston. 

The book sold 19,000 copies in its first five months and has since sold over 50 million copies worldwide, has broken sales records and is now translated into 36 languages. Still popular today, Anne of Green Gables has been adapted for film, stage and radio, allowing Montgomery’s legacy to continue. 

Alanis Obomsawin

Alanis Obomsawin is a woman of many talents. Primarily known for her documentaries, she is also a singer-songwriter, a storyteller, and an Indigenous rights activist. She was born in New Hampshire and raised in Trois-Rivières, Quebec where she experienced racially-charged abuse because her family was the only Indigenous family in Trois-Rivières. 

As a celebrated singer with a concern for children’s education, Obomsawin visited students across the country where she sang and told stories. Following a CBC interview, the National Film Board hired Obomsawin as an advisor for projects about Indigenous Peoples. In 1971, she directed her first film Christmas in Moose Factory. Filmed at a residential school, Christmas in Moose Factory unveils the stories and drawings of young Cree children. 

Obomsawin has since been committed to an exceptional filmmaking career, using her cinematic space to shed light on Indigenous issues, pursue justice, and protect Indigenous rights. Her 52nd film, Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger explores the power Indigenous youth have in influencing social policies. 

As of 2017, she has directed 50 NFB productions and has received numerous honors, including being named a member of the Order of Canada.