Tiffany Banman - Social Media Manager
Happy International Women's Day!
Pure Anada is excited to introduce lip and cheek stain! This vintage inspired "rouge" is made with organic botanicals and 100% natural pigments: the same ones used in
formulas at the turn of the century.
Each of the shades is named after a historic, noteworthy,
Canadian woman who had a positive impact on our society. We hope that wearing
Pure Anada cheek rouge, inspires women to share their God-given gifts to the
world!
As you read through the following short biographies, we trust that you will sense a recurring theme among these women, one that can be summed in an acrostic that spells "women".
Worth - Women who understand their worth and do not require others to validate them are the movers and shakers in society. They've come to the realization that they are equipped with all the necessary skills to make a difference, these skills just need to be discovered and put into practice.
Original - Original women are true to themselves, and genuine and real with others. What makes original women endearing and inspiring is the fact that they are consistent and genuine. What you see is what you get, and what you get is authenticity.
Motivated - Motivated women see a need and meet it, have an idea and develop it, are presented with an opportunity and take the risk. They are driven by challenges, rather than intimidated, and actively look for constructive ways to better themselves and others.
Encouraging - Encouraging women understand how far a word of praise or love goes. They are aware that no one is an island to themselves and support groups are necessary. They are ready to team up, include, and join other women who are passionate about uplifting others!
Nervy - Women that make a difference are willing to think outside the box, go against the flow, and step away from the status quo. They are not afraid to take a chance on their own idea and introduce new ways of thinking and doing things. Though this is daunting and often met with resistance. Nervy women help others see things from a different perspective, proving that there are many different but effective ways to effect change in the world.
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| The Canadian Encyclopedia |
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery is said to be Canada’s most widely read author. Born in Prince Edward Island in 1874, Maud was a novelist and short story writer best known for the Anne of Green Gables series, which has been translated into at least 36 languages as well as braille. Raised by her grandparents following her mother’s death and father’s departure, Maud experienced a lonely childhood but began writing on scraps of paper even as a little girl. Her vivid imagination was fueled by the beautiful Prince Edward Island surroundings, feeding her creativity and lighting a fire in her to write that would last a lifetime. Writing no matter where life or her work took her, Montgomery met with rejection often as she submitted her short stories and poems for publication. She persevered through what seemed like a male dominated field using different pseudonyms to hide her gender, and celebrated the victories when they came. Her work called Anne of Green Gables was rejected and placed in the attic for a year before she had a breakthrough. When it was finally published, Maud had created a character in Anne who immediately charmed readers with her vivacious personality, streak of fire, and love for the world around her. Though Montgomery faced many personal trials throughout her life, she found joy in writing and bringing that happiness to others through her published works. Montgomery was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and the Literary and Artistic Institute of France, and declared a Person of National Historic Significance in Canada.
In 1854, Abigail Becker, a young trapper’s wife, rescued eight sailors from certain death after their ship was wrecked off Long Point. News of her selfless courage quickly spread beyond her home in Norfolk County, Ontario. She was honored with a reception in Buffalo where several hundred dollars were presented to her as a reward, and also received a gold medal from a New York lifesaving association. Abigail gained a kind of immortality as a legendary figure in Great Lakes lore. Until the late 1800s, she was actually more famous than Laura Secord!
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| National Women's History Museum |
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist with a Canadian connection. Beginning her life in the bonds of slavery at a plantation in Maryland, Tubman eventually fled and escaped from slavery to become one of the great heroes of the 19th century. Tubman relied on a secret group of anti-slavery activists who operated the Underground Railroad to gain her freedom. Following her independence, Tubman made it her mission to rescue her family and many others suffering the same plight to safety and freedom, once again utilizing the Underground Railroad. Tubman became the most famous “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, and risked her own life leading many of the people she rescued on dangerous journeys from the US to St. Catherine’s, Ontario. The town was a known safe haven for African Americans fleeing from bondage, was a hub for abolitionist activity, and was the starting and finishing point of many of Tubman’s rescue missions. Known as “Moses” locally and elsewhere, Tubman was a well respected and active member of the St. Catharines community where she lived from 1851 to 1861. Tubman’s fearless fight for freedom didn’t end in St, Catherine’s however, as she went on to help abolitionist John Brown gather men for his attack on Harpers Ferry. Tubman served as an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. The first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 slaves. Heralded as a courageous freedom fighter and military genius, Tubman suffered from epileptic seizures, could not read or write and was never captured. In her later years, Tubman was an activist in the struggle for women’s suffrage. When she died, Tubman was buried with full military honour.
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| The Canadian Encyclopedia |
Viola Desmond
In 1946, entrepreneur and hairdresser Viola Desmond, defied the odds and withstood racial inequality at a movie theatre by refusing to move from the whites only seating area to a section of the theatre unofficially set aside for black moviegoers. Viola was arrested for the stand she chose to take, was placed in jail for the night, and was convicted without legal representation of an obscure tax offence – an offence that would not be pardoned until 2010. Despite officials denying that Viola’s case had anything to do with her race, her refusal to accept an act of racial discrimination stirred the black population of Nova Scotia and sparked change. Segregation was legally ended in Nova Scotia in 1954. In 2018, Viola Desmond was the first Canadian woman to be featured by herself on the face of the $10 bank note and was also named a National Historic Person by the Canadian government.
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| Wikipedia |
Nellie Mclung, orator, author and reformer, was born in Ontario in 1973, but later moved to Manitoba and eventually to Alberta. Nellie’s passion was women’s suffrage, specifically the issue of the vote for women. Nellie started and was involved in many organizations, committees, leagues and clubs designed to further the cause of women’s rights. Nellie’s efforts in campaigning and convincing approach including theatrical efforts helped to reveal the absurdity of not allowing women to have a voice. Due to the persistent effort of Nellie and her colleagues, Manitoba eventually became the first province in Canada to grant women the vote and run for public office in January of 1916. Nellie understood that the First World War was a turning point in the cause of women’s suffrage given the fact that women took on jobs and responsibilities they never had before and proved themselves to be strong, capable, and valuable members of society. Nellie was one of group of five women called The Famous Five who successfully petitioned for the right of women to enter politics in Canada which is known as the Persons Case, a case that was recognized as a historic event in 1997. Nellie Mclung was named a Person of National Historic Significance by the government of Canada in 1954, was honoured along with the Famous Five with an 8-cent stamp, and was voted along with the Famous Five to be named Canada’s first “honorary senators”.
An Irish-born Canadian writer and poet, Isabella Crawford was one of the first Canadians to make a living as a freelance writer. Though her life was marked with tragedy and poverty, Isabella had the opportunity to be introduced to writing in the home of the Strickland family who had taken Isabella and her relatives in to live with them out of charity. Being close friends with the Strickland’s daughter, a writer, Isabella began the journey of writing. Isabella’s first poem was published in 1873 and was followed by many more until her literary earnings were enough to support her mother, sister, and herself. Upon moving to Toronto, Isabella focused more seriously on her writing and contributed a number of her writings to New York and Toronto publications. Isabella became the first local writer to have a novel in 1886 and also published one book in her lifetime. Isabella’s poetry has lived on even after her time, and her writing and legacy have received recognition through the years. A fundraising campaign begun in 1899 to raise money for the placement of a Celtic cross on Isabella’s unmarked grave with the inscription, “Isabella Valency Crawford/Poet/By the Gift of God.”
Charlotte Small was the Metis wife of surveyor, map maker and explorer David Thompson. She was from a community in Northern Saskatchewan called lle-a-l-la-Crosse in which fur trading was the new commerce. Charlotte married young for the sake of security and practical advantages such as translating and trading on her husband’s behalf. She and her husband’s relationship endured and it has been said that their affection was evident. Charlotte was invaluable to her husband given the fact that she was multilingual and naturally connected with different tribes. Her husband attested to his wife’s resourcefulness, knowledge and support. Charlotte was strong and experienced when it came to rough winters and harsh elements, even snaring rabbits when food was scarce. She and her husband took their children along travelling on expeditions ranging from the Rockies to Quebec. She traveled 3 ½ times farther on these expeditions with her husband than did the American explorers Lewis and Clark. Charlotte is due great honour for her faithfulness and strength at her husband's side for 58 years and twenty-thousand kilometers. She is to be credited along with her husband in his success as North America's greatest geographer and celebrated with his for his outstanding efforts in his exploration and mapping of Canada. Women of the fur trade such as Charlotte made incredible sacrifices and contributions to history.
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