Emily Stowe Biography

Emily Stowe was without a doubt an inspirational, motivated feminist determined to make a difference in the lives of women in Canada. She was a key part of the development of our nation, and a true pioneer in the medical and political systems. 2 Emily Howard Jennings was born in Norwich, Ontario on May 1st, 1831 to parents that were strong believers in the importance of receiving proper education: such strong believers, in fact, they actually home schooled their daughters. 1 At only 15, Stowe began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in the neighboring town of Summerville, Ontario. However, she received only half of the salary that men did at the time. Six years later, she applied to Victoria College in Cobourg, Ontario but was denied admission since she was a girl. Some say that this was the turning point for Emily’s suffragette mindset. 1 In 1854, she graduated on the Honour Roll from Toronto’s Normal School for Upper Canada, the only school in British North America at the time that actually accepted women. This was obviously a good year for her, since she also became the first woman principal in Canada at a school in Brantford, Ontario. While teaching as a principal, Emily met and married an immigrant from Yorkshire, England, John Stowe. The couple moved to Pleasantville, Ontario and gave birth to three children: Augusta, John and Frank. After John was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1863, Emily was inspired to explore herbal and homeopathic medicine and healing aids. Her husband’s condition mixed with her desire for women’s rights lead to her to the decision to become a physician. 1 In 1865, she applied to Toronto School of Medicine. Of course, she was denied admission. “The doors of the University are not open to women and I trust they never will be,” said the Principal of the University at the time. 2 This outraged Emily, and she promised herself she would do everything she could for women to have the same opportunities as men.1 Since she