Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Marie Hendricken, who recently passed away.
Marie was, first and foremost, a lifelong partner with her husband J.P.—for the family, on the farm, and in the farm movement.
Marie was an activist. As a farm activist, she fought for the rights of farmers and organized marketing with the National Farmers Union. She served in many roles, including as women's vice-president for Canada. Internationally, she worked to establish projects with Farmers Helping Farmers, focusing on helping women in Kenya and elsewhere.
Marie was a social activist with The Cooper Institute, organizing for progressive social, economic, and cultural change.
She was a community builder at home and abroad and in her church. Marie was also a feminist in the true sense, fighting for matrimonial property rights and women's rights generally.
In 1983, she stated, “We should never give up the struggle”, and she never did.
Solidarity forever, Marie.