She Won The Vote For Women sheds light on Lillian Beynon Thomas, the woman working behind the headlines to secure the franchise
January 7, 2025 – When most Canadians think about the suffrage movement, Nellie McClung will inevitably spring to mind as a key player. The contributions of Lillian Beynon Thomas have received precious little attention … until now!
Law professor and historian Robert E. Hawkins has uncovered the story of Beynon Thomas and shares his research in this compelling biography. In She Won The Vote For Women, Hawkins describes how Lillian used her work as a journalist, playwright, and activist to conduct a campaign that succeeded where all others had failed. By connecting with women across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Beynon Thomas was able to develop a broad-based movement that stood in contrast to the traditional tools of backroom, partisan politics.
Robert Hawkins will be in Winnipeg to launch the biography at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location on January 23rd at 7PM. The event is free to attend and hosted by the Council of Women of Winnipeg.
“Robert E. Hawkins rescues an important woman from the obscurity of history” says Dr. Raymond Blake, professor of history at the University of Regina. “In his fascinating account, he demonstrates clearly that Canada was made by women like Lillian Beynon Thomas who accepted no limits to their place in the emerging nation. Engaging, lucid, and informative, this book is a must read for all interested in understanding how Canada became the nation it is today. We need others to follow Hawkins’ fine example of finding unique nation-builders.”
Robert Hawkins launches She Won The Vote For Women in Winnipeg on Thursday, February 23rd at McNally Robinson Booksellers!
- This event is free to attend
- The event will also be livestreamed on McNally’s YouTube channel
- Event Details
Hosted by
For more information, access to the historical photos in the book, or to arrange an interview with Robert E. Hawkins, please contact:
Angeline Javier
Marketing Director
Great Plains Press
marketing@greatplanspress.ca | 204-475-6799
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