women in politics

1995When did Canada officially recognize Black History Month?

Canada officially recognized Black History Month on 14 December 1995, when the House of Commons unanimously approved a motion led by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament. This landmark designation highlights the significant contributions of Black Canadians to the nation's growth and diversity over four centuries, beginning with explorer and linguist Mathieu da Costa in the early 1600s. A unique commemorative plaque at the Ontario Legislative Building in Toronto honors Black Canadians who served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion during the Great War. Each February since 1996, communities nationwide reflect on and celebrate this rich, enduring history.

1791What is the significance of the Panthéon on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in Paris?

The Panthéon on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in Paris stands as a neoclassical masterpiece designed by architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot, originally built between 1764 and 1790 to honor Sainte-Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Its transformation from church to national mausoleum during the French Revolution marked a dramatic shift in its significance, housing the remains of France’s most celebrated thinkers, leaders, and heroes. The Panthéon’s first interment occurred on 4 April 1791 with the revolutionary orator Mirabeau—only for his body to be removed amid scandal three years later, illustrating the memorial's turbulent history. Today, seventy men and five women are entombed within its crypt, embodying the ideals and diversity of the French Republic.