1930's in Canada // Who's Who

FIRST WOMAN SENATOR
February, 1930

(Ottawa) Yesterday, Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced that Cairine Wilson was to be appointed to the Senate. This would make Wilson the first female senator of Canada .

Her appointment has come only four months after the Privy Council in the England passed the Persons Case. Wilson was not a member of the group of women who brought the Persons Case forward.

Wilson, who is married to the Liberal MP for Russell County , Norman Wilson, has done a large amount of volunteer work and other political work.

Time will tell if women are suited for holding offices in the Senate, however. Until then, her appointment is for life.

King George V Passes Away

King George V died of natural causes last night.  (Ed. note: It was later rumoured that his physician, Lord Dawson of Penn, gave him a lethal injection of cocaine and morphine to ease his suffering.) A beloved leader and courageous man who inspired hope in us all during the War, King George will be missed but not forgotten.  He is to be succeeded by his eldest son, Edward the VIII…

King Edward VIII Abdicates Throne
Dec. 12, 1936

Yesterday, Edward VIII gave the throne to his brother, George VI, in order to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson, a two-time divorcee and American.  Due to the ethical and spiritual problems involving marrying someone who had been divorced, the only way Edward could have married her would have been by abdicating the throne.

Yesterday, Edward’s speech had broadcast across the nation.  It went, for those who missed it, as follows:

“At long last I am able to say a few words of my own.  I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.  And you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry on the heavy duties and responsibilities and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.  And now we all have a new king.  I wish him and you, his people, happiness and prosperity with all my heart.  God bless you all.  God save the King!”

This is a speech to be remembered for decades and Edward and Mrs. Simpson’s tale is perhaps the love story of the decade.

On the other hand, there are children on the streets of London singing this song:  “Hark the herald angels sing/Mrs Simpson’s pinched our King.”

Edward VIII Enters Exile

Once the King of the United Kingdom, Edward the VIII has recently abdicated his throne.  But now he has gone a step farther – despite his new title as the Duke of Windsor, Duke Edward has left England in self-imposed exile.  How long it shall last is unknown, but the falling Maltese Cross during his father’s funeral really was a bad omen.