Louise Crummy McKinney was born on September 22nd, 1868 near Frankville, Ontario. She grew up on a farm and went to school nearby. She graduated from Athens District High School in 1884 then Ottawa Normal School in 1886. She then became a teacher at Leeds County School. In 1895, she married James McKinney. They had one son named, Willard. While in North Dakota, she became involved in the Women's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.).
In 1903, the couple moved to Claresholm, Northwest Territories (soon to become Alberta) and lived in a house with adjoined land. Louise helped organize a branch of the W.C.T.U in her community, south of Calgary. She became the Provincial President and went on to serve as the President of Canada of the W.C.T.U. and then Vice-President of the World Organization. In particular she supported the cause of temperance education in schools.
In the Alberta General Election of 1917,
women were permitted to run for office for the first time. McKinney was
nominated as an independent candidate, running and winning because of her
support of prohibition - prohibiting the public sale of alcohol. She and
nursing Sister Roberta MacAdams, who was also elected in the same vote,
share the distinction of being the first women in the entire British Empire
to sit as elected officials. Known for her skills as legislator and a public
speaker, McKinney fought for laws to help immigrants, widows, and separated
women. She also fought for stricter liquor control laws. She won the battle
for this law in 1921.
Her place in the public was recognized. McKinney was the only woman from Western Canada - and one of just four nationwide - to sign the Basis of Union for the United Church of Canada. She then went on to become a member of the "Famous Five." Louise McKinney died suddenly in Claresholm on July 10th, 1931. She was 63. Her gravestone says simply, "Mother."
"The purpose of woman's life is... to make
the best possible contribution to the generation in which she is living."
* ...... Louise McKinney, MLA
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