“Who was the woman trying to convince a jury in a tiny courthouse in Nova Scotia that it was self-defense when she killed her partner; and who was the young woman walking into the palais de justice in small-town Quebec arguing that it was her choice, not his, to have an abortion? What was it that pushed these women on, even when the lawyers said it was hopeless?”

From the award-winning author of The Abortion Caravan and More Than a Footnote, Karin Wells once again pulls us into the lives—and this time, the legal trials—of a group of women integral to the advancement of women’s rights in Canada. Eliza Campbell, Chantale Daigle, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell—these Women Who Woke Up the Law often had no idea what they were facing in the courts, or the price they would have to pay. Some never saw justice themselves, but they left a legal legacy. Their bold determination is something we need now more than ever to guard the hard-won gains in women’s rights. 

The stories of the women behind several landmark cases in Canadian law—from divorce to self-defense to maternity benefits to abortion.

Introduction

1. The Utmost Prudence

(Cases related to divorce: Eliza Campbell, Eleonora Tudor-Hart)

2. A Contented Woman

(The Persons case: Emily Murphy and the Famous Five)

3. "Not Even a Spoon"

(Property rights: Florence Murdoch)

4. No Means No

(Sexual assault: Jane Doe, Edmonton)

5. The Cases that Refuse to Die

(Maternity benefits: Stella Bliss)

6. Bake Sales and Wild Meat Dinner

(Indian status: Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, the Famous Six)

7. Le seul choix

(Abortion: Chantale Daigle, Barbara Dodd)

8. The Uplifted Knife

(Domestic violence: Jane Hurshman, Lyn Lavallee, Lisa Banfield)

9. No Dark Spots

(Racialized women: Viola Desmond, Rachael Baylis)

10. "A Right To My Own Story"

(NDAs: Kaarina Pakka, Jan Wong, Peter Nygard)

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Photo Credits

About the Author

"Wells is as fine a writer as she is a documentarian.… Her writing style is as distinctive to her readers as her voice is to her listeners. The 10 chapters in her book are based on prodigious research supported by her journalistic instinct as to what makes a good story, as well as her understanding of the law."

“We have faced these moments before and have come out victorious. Let this book inspire you.”

"Wells is skilled at pulling threads and making connections, weaving these wide-ranging tales into a fascinating tapestry."

"The cruelty faced by Jane Hurshman and the desperate measures it drove her to were once famous in this country; evidence at her 1983 trial shocked Canadians and helped change attitudes about self-defence and spousal abuse. In this excerpt from the new book Women Who Woke up the Law: Inside the Cases That Changed Women’s Rights in Canada we are reminded of Hurshman’s fight for her rights — and, before that, her fight to survive."

“The book is timely considering today’s global political climate…. A message Wells has for readers is to ‘not take your eye off the ball.’”

“Terrific…. Grips the reader with the power of a novel.”

From domestic violence to maternity benefits to property rights, these inspiring cases have helped shape the Canada we see today and underscores the importance of protecting these hard-earned gains for generations to come.

“Women Who Woke Up the Law crackles with lively storytelling power, wit and relevance from start to finish.”

“Chilling stories of adultery, abuse, and abortion that came at great cost to the women whose personal cases became public causes. We owe them our gratitude.”

"Wells brings to light women whose names are often absent from textbooks, yet whose struggles reverberated through Canadian courtrooms, communities, and ultimately the broader social fabric....By grounding legal history in the lived experiences of women—whether in divorce courts, criminal trials, or constitutional challenges—Wells transforms abstract doctrine into a story of resistance, persistence, and fragile but hard-won progress."

"Wells explores the impact a variety of women have had on defending rights and sometimes creating rights…Her latest book should make for inspiring reading."

"This is a book well worth reading. It is not about the dry legalese of cases that advanced women’s rights in Canada, but rather about the women themselves and the lives they were living – and the circumstances that led to changes in the law."

"The courage and determination of many people are documented in this incredible history. Wells has amplified the voices of those brave individuals whose advocacy reshaped the narrative for women’s rights in Canada. This is a significant case history that belongs in every library."

“Each gem is about an ordinary woman who achieved something extraordinary.”

“An unflinching reminder of women’s long and fierce fight for justice under the law.”

“I didn’t read this book as a work of history but as a call to arms.”