Marie-Josephine Gerin-Lajoie, 1890-1971, Social Reformer

Two centennials are being celebrated in 1993: the founding of the National Office of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), and of the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC). It is also the 50th anniversary of the first federally appointed woman judge in Canada. Honouring these events, four stamps are being issued depicting outstanding Canadian women. Throughout her life, Marie-Joséphine Gérin-Lajoie combined a commitment to social work and reform within the framework of a religious vocation. In 1911 she received her B.A., the first woman to accomplish this from a French-Canadian institute of higher learning. She travelled abroad, learning new social ideas and how to adapt them at home. While she was promoting her ideas on social responsibility, Marie became aware of her strong interest in the religious life. In 1923 she founded the Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil Institute, a secular order of nuns who dedicated their lives to social work. Her other accomplishments are numerous, including the founding of social centres, schools, day camps and self-help groups. In 1942 she saw her School of Social Action integrated into the School of Social Work at the University of Montreal.