The Agnes Macphail Award is an annual award that recognizes an individual(s) from the East York community who has exemplified the causes that Agnes Macphail championed in her long and distinguished career.
Agnes Campbell Macphail (1890-1954) was once described as “the most important woman in public life that Canada has produced in the 20th century.”
2021 marks the 100th Anniversary of Agnes Macphail’s election as Canada’s first female Member of Parliament in 1921. She was featured on the commemorative Canada 150 $10 bill in 2017. This milestone achievement was also designated an anniversary of significance by the Government of Canada in 2021.
In 1921, Agnes Macphail blazed a path for women with her election to the federal House of Commons. In 1943, she became the first woman elected and sworn to sit in the Legislative Assembly, representing York East (which included the Borough of East York and the surrounding rural area). For further information about her life and accomplishments, please visit the Related Links section on this page.
On March 24, 1993, former East York Mayor Michael Prue proclaimed the first annual Agnes Macphail Day in the Borough of East York, to honour the 50th anniversary of her election to the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park.
In addition to the Agnes Macphail Award, her legacy is recognized across Toronto with the naming of : Agnes Macphail Public School, Agnes Macphail Square, Macphail Avenue, and the Agnes Macphail House, which has been designated as a property of cultural heritage value under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Agnes Macphail Award was established in January 1994 by the former Borough of the East York Council. The award recognizes the connection of the East York community to the causes Agnes Macphail championed in her long and distinguished career.
An annual award is presented to an East York resident who has made outstanding contributions as a volunteer in one or more of the following areas:
The nominee must be a resident of the former Borough of East York who lives by Agnes’ motto, “Think Globally, Act Locally”.
Nominees from previous years are eligible for re-nomination. Previous recipients are ineligible.
Each nomination should include the following information:
By mail: Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee, c/o Strategic Protocol & External Relations, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 12th Floor, West Tower, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
By email: agnesmacphailaward@toronto.ca
Completed nominations must be received by midnight, Friday, January 28, 2022.
The Agnes Macphail Award Ceremony will be held in March 2022, near to Agnes Macphail Day on March 24, subject to public health regulations.
The recipient is honoured with a medal, framed certificate of recognition and their portrait on an honour wall in the East York Civic Centre with other recipients.
Award recipients are given the opportunity of designating a charity to receive donations from the Agnes Macphail Fund that is managed by The East York Foundation, a registered charity. Donations are now being accepted for the charities chosen by the 2020 award recipients.
Donations can be made to the Agnes Macphail Fund of The East York Foundation by completing the donation form and mailing it to:
Secretary-Treasurer, East York Foundation
c/o 50 Merritt Road
Toronto, ON M4B 3K6
Donations made to The East York Foundation are deductible for Income Tax purposes. A charitable tax receipt is issued at the time of donation.
| Award Recipient | Year |
|---|---|
| Paula Davies | 2020 |
| Raymond White | 2020 |
| Karen Fraser | 2019 |
| Carol Burtin Fripp | 2018 |
| Rev. Jim Parker | 2017 |
| Patrick Rocca | 2016 |
| Muhammad Masood Alam | 2015 |
| Sheila Lacroix | 2014 |
| Alan Redway | 2013 |
| Alice Carriman | 2012 |
| John Carter | 2011 |
| Bill Pashby | 2010 |
| Patricia Moore | 2009 |
| Geoff Kettel | 2008 |
| Lorna Krawchuk | 2007 |
| Shamsh Kara | 2006 |
| George Hurst | 2005 |
| Vi Thompson | 2004 |
| Dorothy Rivers-Moore | 2003 |
| Bob Hart | 2002 |
| Grace Stephens | 2001 |
| Audrey Tobias | 2000 |
| Barbara Thompson | 1999 |
| Elisabeth and Robert Lister | 1998 |
| Ruth Goldhar | 1997 |
| Marjorie Lewsey | 1996 |
| Eileen Morris Adams | 1995 |
| J. Edna Beange | 1994 |