There’s always a first — and in honour of International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating some of the incredible Â鶹ÊÓƵ women who blazed trails, set new courses, and who still inspire us today. In no way is this an exhaustive list, but it’s a start.
is using her expertise to improve the environment while sharing her experience to encourage others to create and follow their own paths to success.
Although she would finish her studies at the University of Toronto, ’s journey to become Canada’s first female architecture grad began at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
Born and raised in Alberta, made history when she became the first person to graduate with a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Law degree, the first black person admitted to the Alberta Bar, and Canada’s first female Black lawyer.
In addition to being the university of Alberta’s first female medical graduate, has also been immortalized in Jesse Arden’s play, Leone.
Decima Eveline Robinson held a seat as one of the first Â鶹ÊÓƵ students — ever, and was the very first person to graduate from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ with a Bachelor of Science.
A history changing suffragette, when she joined the Department of Classics in 1913 as an assistant professor, became the first female academic at the Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
In 1974, Professor Emerita Patricia Prestwich recognized the need for women’s stories to be told, and was the first faculty member to create courses highlighting the history of women.
A leading voice in the world of higher education, represented the Â鶹ÊÓƵ on the global stage for a decade, serving as the university’s first female president.