Elizabeth Muriel Gregory "Elsie" MacGill

Elizabeth MacGill's entire life was defined by "firsts". She was born in Vancouver in 1905 to James MacGill, a respected lawyer, and Helen MacGill, British Columbia's first woman judge. Encouraged by her mother, she decided to study engineering at the University of Toronto, and thus a lifetime of "firsts" began: no woman in Canada had ever graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree until MacGill did in 1927. After earning her degree, she moved to Michigan to work for the Austin Automobile Company, and it was there that her interest in aircraft was sparked. She began pursuing a Master's in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Michigan, and in 1929 she became the first woman in North America (and probably the world) to earn such a degree.

In the coming years, she had the distinction of being the first ever woman aircraft designer, was put at the head of important aircraft design projects during World War II, was the first woman corporate member elected to the Engineering Institute of Canada, and served as president of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs for two years. She also recieved a number of awards during her lifetime, both Canadian and international, including the Order of Canada in 1971. Because of her, women across Canada and the world were inspired to defy boundaries and make their own lives a series of "firsts". 

Update: Excitingly, Elizabeth MacGill has made the short-list of women who could end up on Canada's bank notes! Click here to cast your vote and help make sure this incredible pioneer for woman in STEM is recognized for all of her accomplishments.

Dr. Emily Howard Stowe

Dr. Emily Stowe is best known as Canada's first practicing female doctor, and a founder of the Toronto Women's Literary Club (later known as the Canadian Women's Suffrage Association). Born in Norwich, Ontario in 1831, she began her history of fighting for women's rights when she applied to study at Ontario's Victoria College and was rejected because of her gender. Undeterred, she applied to the Normal School for Upper Canada instead, graduated with honors, and went on to become the first female public school principle in Ontario. Stowe had a background in homeopathy because of her mother's interest in it, but only became interested in pursuing medicine as a career after her husband contracted tuberculosis in 1863.

Forced to attend school in the United States because no Canadian schools would accept her, Stowe earned a degree at the New York Medical College for Women and returned to Ontario, where she set up a clinic on Richmond Street in Toronto. She continued to be a vocal member of the suffrage movement for the rest of her life, and her daughter Augusta was the first woman to recieve a Canadian medical degree. Because of her, women were empowered to fight for their rights, and she was fundamental in establishing a tradition of Canadian women practicing medicine.

Dr. Nadine Caron

Dr. Nadine Caron was born and raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, and completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University (where she was also a star basketball player), before moving on to study at the University of British Columbia's School of Medicine. She earned the Shrum Gold medal from SFU for being the top undergraduate student, and the Hamber Gold Medal from UBC for graduating, once again, at the top of her class. However, her scholastic acomplishments were just the beginning - during her surgical residency at Harvard, she completed a master's degree in public health, and has since earned the distinction of being the first Canadian woman general surgeon of First Nations descent.

Dr. Caron currently works as a general endocrine surgeon at Prince George Regional Hospital, serves as the Co-Director of the UBC Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health, and is a faculty member at both the University of Northern BC and the John Hopkins Centre for American Indian Health. A tireless advocate for nothern and Indigenous populations whose communities have limited access to health care, much of Dr. Caron's research focuses around changing Canadian health policy so that all Canadians can have safe, affordable treatment, no matter where they live. Because of her, First Nations girls have a unique role model to look up to, and the Canadian health care system is getting better at addressing the needs of marginalized communities. 

Dr. Veena Rawat

Veena Rawat was born in India, and immigrated to Canada in 1968. Shortly afterwards, in 1973, she graduated from Queen's University with a PhD in Electrical Engineering - the first woman to do so - and held various jobs within the Canadian Government for the next 28 years, all to do with wireless and space communication services. During her time with Industry Canada, she consulted with various leaders in the field of communications, both nationally and internationally, helped lead negotiations at the International Telecommunication Union of Nations, and was the first woman to chair a World Radiocommunication Conference. She also focused much of her time on mentoring and promoting public service opportunities for female engineers.

After her work in the goverment, Dr. Rawat worked as the president of Canada's Communications Research Centre, and was responsible for Canada's collaboration with various countries on research projects related to information and commmunications technologies. Among many other accolades, in 2014 Dr. Rawat recieved the Order of Canada, the highest Canadian civilian award. Acknowledging her as "a trailblazer for women in the telecommunications sector" who has worked to increase opportunities from women in the fields of science and technology, this award was a testament to Dr. Rawat's legacy and her dedication to representing Canada on the international stage. Because of her, many of the technologies we use to communicate with every day have been made possible, and she acts as an inspiration to all women looking for a future career in STEM.