Quebec now has three new historical figures, three women who received this designation on Tuesday, on the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day.
The announcement was made in Montreal by the Minister of Culture and Communications, Nathalie Roy, who did not fail to highlight the date of March 8 in broad strokes. “This is the perfect opportunity to highlight the contribution of remarkable women to the history of Quebec. Women who have enriched our culture with their talent, creativity and determination. »
The designation of historical figure was thus granted to the ballerina, choreographer and founder of the Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ludmilla Chiriaeff.
For her part, the Lawinonkie craftswoman Marguerite Vincent, who created a major clothing workshop in Wendake around 1830, became the first Aboriginal woman to receive this distinction.
Finally, one of the founders of the Orchester symphonique de Montréal (OSM), Antonia Nantel, is also designated a historical figure. The Allegro foyer of the Maison symphonique de Montréal became the Antonia-Nantel foyer.
“While no large orchestra existed in Montreal, she had the audacity to imagine the creation of the first professional French-speaking symphony orchestra in Quebec, which would showcase not only the talents of musicians, but also of composers. here,” declared former premier Lucien Bouchard, now chairman of the OSM board of directors.
Sisters Françoise and Hélène David, granddaughters of Antonia Nantel, were delighted with this recognition granted to their grandmother. “Very happy that women today are recognized in this way, including of course our grandmother”, first declared Françoise David.
“It’s probably the first time in history that Antonia Nantel has been called by her maiden name, as they said at the time, and not Mrs. Athanase David, because she was still the politician’s wife. , minister, provincial secretary, who has often been credited with founding the OSM, even though she is his wife from A to Z,” added his sister Hélène.
Progress still fragile
Minister Roy also designated the founding of the Provincial Committee for Women’s Suffrage as a historic event under the Cultural Heritage Act.
Her colleague responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest, took advantage of the moment to recall the importance of the struggle of women throughout history. “Let us take advantage of March 8 to highlight these advances, but also to appreciate their fragility. We must never let our guard down. »
At her side, the president of the Conseil du statut de la femme, Me Louise Cordeau, added that March 8, “it’s also a time to remember that we all have a role to play through education. of our children to build a more equitable and egalitarian society”.
Françoise David, who was president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec from 1994 to 2001, said she believes that the most important challenge facing women today is “to achieve equality in intimacy. […] We look at feminicides, we look at all forms of violence against women. I think we’re going to have to take care of the intimate, of what happens in the relationships between men and women. We have cultural changes to make. »