Mr. Speaker, on this International Women's Rights Day, I would like to honour the memory of a woman who had a huge impact on the social and cultural identity of my part of the country.
Elsie Reford was the kind of philanthropist we could use more of. Known for her civic engagement, she was a co-founder of the Women's Canadian Club of Montreal. As the first women's club in Canada, it helped give women a voice in the early 1900s.
Born into the Montreal bourgeoisie, Elsie Reford became a prominent horticulturist in the lower St. Lawrence region. She founded the very popular Les Jardins de Métis, an exceptional work of horticultural art and an internationally recognized jewel in our region's crown.
Today's date, March 8, was carefully chosen for the launch of a book about her life. Elsie Reford: 150 Objects of Passion tells the story of this passionate woman and of the passions that inspired her and made her story so fascinating.
We still have a long way to go, but I am grateful to Elsie Reford and all the women who laid the groundwork for our emancipation.