The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto

April 9th – December 20th, 2025

Did you know that 52% of Torontonians are women? Join Museum of Toronto as we bring their stories to life. The 52 is a project that celebrates the impact that women have had on our city, the world, and beyond. Building on a multi-year research project, our newest exhibition will celebrate the lives of 52 women who have shaped Toronto as we know it.

Spanning from the 1800s until today, this exhibition shines a spotlight on the change-makers, rebels, and revolutionaries within Toronto’s 52%. While some of these women’s stories are well known, others have gone relatively untold until today.

See how many names you are familiar to you — step into their shoes, learn their stories and discover the ways they have transformed Toronto.

The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto is curated across five themes: science, arts and culture, politics, sport, and civic life. To tell these stories, this exhibition features archival photographs, historic artifacts, and creative monologues written by 24 award-winning Canadian playwrights.

Admission for this free. Donations are suggested.

Tickets or reservations are not required to attend.

401 Richmond Street West

Eastern Entrance

Wednesday – Saturday: 12pm – 6pm

Sunday – Tuesday: CLOSED

Meet the 52

Adrienne Clarkson

A leading figure in Canada’s cultural life, Adrienne Clarkson has transformed broadcasting, journalism, the arts, and public service.

Angela James

Known as the “Wayne Gretsky of women’s hockey,” Angela James is known for her athletic excellence across Toronto, Canada, and the world. Her passion for the sport has propelled the popularity and recognition of women's hockey.

Ausma Malik

Ausma Malik is the first hijab-wearing woman in public office in Canada. Her dedication to Toronto’s wellbeing is prominent in her championship of affordable housing and racial justice.

Beatrice Worsley

Beatrice Worsley is recognized as Canada’s first female computer scientist. Her lifetime of research and work in the field were at the forefront of Canada’s burgeoning computer science sector.

Bernice Redmon

Bernice Redmon, appointed to the Victorian Order of Nurses in Canada, was a trailblazer in public health as the first Black Canadian nurse. Through her advocacy work, she paved the way for other Black women to work in Ontario hospitals.

Bianca Andreescu

Bianca Andreescu has raised the global profile of tennis for Canadians. As one of the youngest winners of a Grand Slam singles title, Andreescu is the highest-ranked Canadian in Women’s Tennis Association history.

Blanche Lemco van Ginkel

Modernist architect Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was the first woman and Canadian president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. She advocated for equal pay amongst male and female faculty members resulting in a 2002 University of Toronto pay equity settlement for female colleagues.

Cathy Crowe

Cathy Crowe, as one of Canada’s first street nurses, received the Order of Canada in 2018. Her documentaries platform the vulnerable, depicting her advocacy for the health and rights of the homeless.

Cecilia Krieger

Cecilia Krieger was the first woman to graduate with a PhD in mathematics from a Canadian university. As a Jewish immigrant, she worked to translate Polish mathematics texts into English, making them available to wider audiences.

Cheri Dinovo

Cheri DiNovo was the first minister to perform a legal same-sex marriage in Canada. Her support for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights shines through in her political work of passing inclusive legislation.

Clara Cynthia Benson

As the first woman to graduate, complete a PhD, and teach in chemistry at the University of Toronto, Clara Cynthia Benson’s career of firsts transformed more than her scientific field.

Columbia “Coco” Diaz

Columbia Diaz empowered newcomers and caregivers through education and advocacy for rights through her relentless community organizing work.

Diana Carter

As the first woman to win a car race in Canadian history, Diana Carter was destined to trailblaze her way through a career at the top of Canadian race car driving.

Elizabeth “Elsie” MacGill

Canada’s first practicing female engineer, Elizabeth MacGill, advanced the field of Canadian aeronautics while leading a dedicated fight for gender equality.

Emily Stowe

Emily Stowe was a founder of the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association and the first female physician to publicly practice medicine in Ontario.

Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman dedicated her life to anti-war activism and social justice organizing. Her lectures on anarchist philosophies attracted thousands and fostered dedicated community organizing networks.

Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld

As a medal-winning Olympian and a leading sports journalist, Fanny Rosenfeld’s multi-faceted career changed the landscape of women’s sports in Canada.

Flora MacDonald Denison

Flora MacDonald Denison, president of the Canadian Suffrage Association from 1911 to 1914, was an unwavering advocate for gender equality in Toronto and beyond.

Frances Loring

Frances Loring was a community leader who opened her home to Toronto’s arts community. Her art haven was recognized as the “most fascinating gathering place in the country” by A.Y. Jackson.

Gar Yin Hune

Gar Yin Hune, escaping a war back home, toured Canada performing Cantonese Opera at the age of 19. Hune’s troupe’s performances held gathering space for flourishing Chinese-Canadian communities across various Chinatowns.

Hazel McCallion

Hazel McCallion was appointed to both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, recognizing her dedication to exemplary city infrastructure. Through her experience with the mayorship of Mississauga, McCallion helped turn the city into the 6th largest in Canada.

Jackie Shane

Jackie Shane was a transgender pioneer of 1960s soul music. Putting on emotionally compelling performances, Shane was an icon in the Toronto music scene for her commitment to authenticity in life and art.

Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs devoted her life’s works to fighting for cities that are designed for people and quality of life. Her advocacy and academic accomplishments shaped Toronto’s social and physical landscape as we know it.

Jean Lumb

Jean Lumb was the first Chinese-Canadian woman to receive the Order of Canada in 1976, honouring her efforts in changing immigration laws and helping save Chinatown.

Jeanne Parkin

Jeanne Parkin is a proponent of public Canadian art. In 2006, the City of Toronto awarded Parkin with a Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating her decades-long contributions to the visual arts scene of Toronto.

Jennifer Hodge de Silva

Hodge de Silva’s commitment to storytelling and representation broke barriers in the Canadian filmmaking industry.

Jill Andrew

Jill Andrew is the first Black and queer person elected into the Ontario Legislature. Her platform stands for race and social justice, healthcare equity, and the benefits of arts and culture.

Josephine Mandamin

Anishinaabe Elder, Josephine Madamin, was a revolutionary leader in the fight to protect water rights for Indigenous peoples.

Judith Snow

Born with quadriplegia, Judith Snow was Canada’s first person to receive individualized care funding from the Government. Her activism enabled an additional 600+ people in Ontario to receive funding.

June Rowlands

An unstoppable force, June Rowlands was the first woman to be Toronto’s Mayor, TTC Commissioner, and Chair of the Toronto Police Commission.

Karen Kain

Karen Kain worked as the Artistic Director of the National Ballet for 16 years. Kain began her career showcasing her passion and dedication to ballet by starring as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake and quickly thereafter becoming a Principal Dancer.

Kathleen Taylor

Kathleen Taylor breaks ground no matter what industry she stands in. An accomplished business leader, her career continues to break barriers and light the way for women at major corporate institutions.

Kit Coleman

Kit Coleman was the world’s first female war correspondent. She delivered ground-breaking coverage on the Spanish-American War and was the first president of the Canadian Women’s Press Club, an organization which offered support to further women’s journalism careers.

Laura Bulger

Laura Bulger, a Portuguese immigrant, was one of the first teachers of her heritage to work at the Toronto District School Board. Her passion for her culture shone through in her support of other immigrants, especially children, as she helped them maintain a sense of identity through the Portuguese language.

Lee Maracle

Lee Maracle revived Indigenous stories through her innovative writing. Working to “decolonize the feminine,” Maracle’s first book was among the first Indigenous-authored works published in Canada.

Lillian H. Smith

Lillian H. Smith, the first children’s librarian in the British Empire, established guidelines for the inclusion and classification of children’s literature in Toronto libraries.

Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s leadership as a visionary writer, cultural influencer, and champion of literature and the arts continues to inspire Toronto and beyond.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Shadd Cary left a lasting legacy of abolition and education in Toronto’s fight for racial equality and social justice.

Mary Fix

Through her trailblazing career of firsts, Fix championed community-led development and civic historical preservation that continues to influence Toronto today.

Menaka Thakkar

Menaka Thakkar established Canada’s first professional Indian dance company in 1978. Thakkar blended different cultural dance styles to co-create a performance called “East Meets West” in which she bridged cultural divides.

Min Sook Lee

Min Sook Lee is an industry-recognized filmmaker who advocates for social justice at the intersection of art and social change through her films and professorship at OCAD University.

Myrtle Cook McGowan

Myrtle Cook McGowan was part of Canada’s first women’s track team in 1928 – setting the stage for a lifetime of sports leadership that transformed women’s professional sports in Canada.

Penny Oleksiak

With 9 career medals, Penny Oleksiak is Canada’s most decorated Canadian Olympian. She learned how to swim in her neighbour’s pool at the age of 9 and at 16, she won four medals at the Summer Olympics.

Phyllis “Yogi” Bomberry

Phyllis Bomberry was a trailblazer for Indigenous women in sports. As a vocal advocate for racial unity within sports, her legacy lives on in Canadian sports today.

Roberta Bondar

Roberta Bondar is Canada’s first female astronaut and neurologist in space. Her pursuits in the fields of science, medicine, and education continue to inspire generations of Canadians.

Rosalie Silberman Abella

Rosalie Silberman Abella was the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. She founded the concept of “employment equity” and shaped the first decision made under the 1989 Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Rowena Hume

Rowena Hume co-founded the first birth control clinic in Canada and was the first president of the Women’s College Hospital.

Saadia Muzaffar

Tech entrepreneur and author, Saadia Muzaffar, is dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities to thrive in STEM.

Slova Greenberg

Slova Greenberg was a foundational advocate for healthcare, women’s empowerment, and elder care in Toronto. Today, her impact is seen through the success of Mount Sinai Hospital, the Baycrest Centre, and more.

Susan Bailey

Susan Bailey, head nurse of the Emigrant Hospital, was a front-line worker and one of the first healthcare professionals to respond to the typhus epidemic in 1847. Bailey herself contracted the fever in her dedicated service to her patients.

Verna Johnston

Between operating a boarding home for Indigenous youth in Toronto and playing a foundational role at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Verna Johnston’s community leadership has shaped generations.

Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for our upcoming events.

Learn More About Our Monologues

As a part of The 52, we asked Canadian playwrights to create monologues interpreting the stories of the 52 women in our project. As a part of this exhibition, we’re thrilled to premiere these filmed monologues written by 24 award-winning Canadian playwrights. The playwrights include: Aida Jordao, Ali Joy Richardson, Anna Chatterton, Ashley Naomi Skye, Cheri Maracle, Coleen MacPherson, Diane Flacks, Erin Shields, Falen Johnson, Jo SiMalaya Alcampo, Jordi Mand, Julia Hune-Brown, Julie Tepperman, Kanika Ambrose, Keira Loughran, Lisa Ryder, Marcia Johnson, Marjorie Chan, Meghan Swaby, Ophira Calof, Sarena Parmar, Sedina Fiati, Shandra Spears, Sharada Eswar.

To bring these monologues to life, we brought together talent from across the country including: Aida Jordao, Alexandra Crenian, Ange Loft, Asha Vijayasham, Ashley Naomi Skye, Athena Lemarre, Barbara Gordon, Bryn Kennedy, Cara Rebecca, Carolyn Fe, Cheri Maracle, Danielle Ferrier, Diana Tso, Diane Flacks, Erica Anderson, Gloria Mampuya, Jane Miller, Jessica Greenberg, Krystal Kiran, Krystle Chance, Lara Arabian, Leesa Kopansky, Linda Goranson, Lisa Kovack, Lisa Ryder, Lori Nancy Kalamanski, Lyla Porter Follows, Margaret Evans, Mary Kelly, Mayko Nguyen, Mirabella Sundar Singh, Monica Dotter, Nicole Stamp, Niki Landau, Rebecca De La Cour, Sabrina Friedman, Sachi Lovatt, Sarah Horsman, Sasha Wentges, Sedina Fiati, Shandra Spears, Shira Leuchter, Soo Garay, Steph Jung, Susan Burnett, Teri Lake, Tiffany Claire Martin, Tommie-Amber Pirie, Tonjha Richardson, Tracey Hoyt, Valerie Boyle, Vicki Kim.

Learn More About Our Artifacts

In the space, you can explore films, personal objects, photographs, letters and mementos of the women as well as material culture from our city. We’re thrilled to display these objects from personal collections, the City of Toronto Archives, and Toronto History Museums’ Fine Art and Artifact Collection.

Learn More About This Multi-Year Project

This impact-filled multi-year project celebrates the myriad of ways women have contributed to various facets of city life – in art, culture, politics, sports, technology, business, and more. To tell these important stories, this project has commissioned 24 exemplary playwrights to write 52 monologues – one for each transformational woman on our list.

We kicked off this journey with a participatory performance on September 23, 2023 as part of Nuit Blanche.

Learn more about the project and its activations here.

Invest in the Future of The 52

Join the community of people who support this impact-driven, multi-year project. Become an Investor today.

Learn about perks for individual and corporate donors. Email davida@museumoftoronto.com.

Acknowledgements

Museum of Toronto is made possible with the generous support of Diane Blake and Stephen Smith.

Exhibition Design

elsonstudio

elsonstudio is the design practice of Christine Elson. Trained as an architect, Christine has been working with museums, galleries and other cultural clients for over 10 years, developing engaging exhibitions, installations and activations. Her studies in literature, as well as her experience working in the theatre world and film industry, have contributed to a deep understanding of the design of narrative spaces.

Meet Our Sponsors

Coming Soon.

About Museum of Toronto

Founded in 2015, Museum of Toronto is a growing City Museum dedicated to exploring and sharing the diverse histories of the city. Museum of Toronto’s exhibitions, content, and experiences aim to inspire curiosity and foster deeper connections to our collective histories. With exhibition space at 401 Richmond Street West, partnerships with institutions across the city and a growing digital library of Toronto histories, Museum of Toronto offers a wide range of programming that is accessible to all.