Winnipeg, MB - At an event this morning, Councillor Devi Sharma was joined by former Mayor Susan Thompson to officially unveil a new plaque to commemorate the newly-named Susan A Thompson Building in the City Hall campus at 510 Main Street.
“As a passionate advocate for women’s equality, the dignity of all who participate in the political process, and the opportunity of all citizens to make a contribution to public life, Susan Thompson is an inspiration to me, and to a generation of Canadian women,” said Speaker Devi Sharma, City Councillor for Old Kildonan. “This plaque tells that story, and will be an eloquent reminder of her achievement, for generations to come.”
Tomorrow, Saturday, October 28 marks the 25th anniversary of Susan Thompson’s election win as the first female Mayor of Winnipeg, during which she served two terms as Winnipeg’s 40th Mayor. She later went on to serve as the first woman Consul General at the Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis and as the founding President & CEO of The University of Winnipeg Foundation. She was also a recipient of the Order of Manitoba and received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from The University of Winnipeg.
“Today is a most special “Moment in Time" and "Moment in History" for me and I again thank Winnipeg City Council for this honour,” said former Mayor Susan Thompson. “The installation of this plaque is a very re-affirming action by the Mayor and City Council in the support of the importance of all women and our contributions and leadership to our city and its communities. It completes the process of the honour of having the re-naming of the Administration Building to the Susan A Thompson Building. It also provides the appropriate information for citizens as to why this building was re-named. Coming on the eve of my 25th anniversary as being elected the first woman Mayor of the City of Winnipeg and still the one and only woman to have achieved this in our 143 year history, it is hopefully an inspiration for more women to aspire to political office. It is an important statement to make, especially in this month of October, which is Women’s History Month.”
Councillor Sharma first proposed the idea of renaming Administration Building after a female representative in order to recognize the important role of women in politics and to mark the 100th Anniversary of women’s first right to vote in Canada. The naming of the Susan A Thompson Building was supported unanimously by Council, and was formally dedicated on June 22, 2017.