On September 6th, Brescia will celebrate the third annual Foundress Day. This year, Brescia will also be holding the Opening and Blessing of its new pavilion on the same day.
For those unfamiliar to the founding of Brescia, a page on the Brescia site describes its inception.
The story of the Ursuline Sisters’ founding of the University College in 1919 inspires me, particularly when I consider the historical context in which it occurred. Women were not legally considered persons in Canada until 1929. Canadian women of any racial origin were not permitted to vote and hold office until 1960. When looking at the details of history, the Ursuline Sisters pioneered a new path for human rights in Canada, one which I am very grateful for.
Foundress Day this year will mark two significant attributes of Brescia: the trail-blazing inception of the institution, and a cornerstone of the evolution of its infrastructure since 1925.
At a time where other human rights are currently being fought for, I am appreciative of Foundress Day for reminding me of the rights that I am fortunate to have as a human, woman, in Canada – rights of which are easily taken for granted when perspective is lost from time to time. Considering the insanity of North American society, where some humans seem to feel they can decide the rights of other humans (and other species, for that matter), I am surprised that I am able to exercise the rights that I do. Because of this, I am more aware of my responsibility in how others are treated, and that instead of being indifferent, it is my responsibility to be serious about equality on any scale. To paraphrase Noam Chomsky, being in favour of freedom of speech means to be in favour of the freedom of speech that you despise.
I know neither who, if anyone, assisted the Ursuline Sisters in purchasing land to build the Brescia University College campus, nor do I know who voted for women’s right to be equal citizens in Canada. I am pretty confident, however, that it was not only females voting for Canadian women’s rights. So even if you do not support the qualities of people who struggle for human rights today, it is your responsibility, as a human who is in support of your own rights, to support any other human in their fight for their rights.
Now, I have the chance to learn in an institution of integrity. Through an institution built despite social injustice, despite a lack of support from the masses, built in the face of limitation and doubt, the Ursuline Sisters left a legacy suiting Brescia’s mantra, of choosing to lead. In a time where the easiest choice would have been to be realistic, when it would’ve been socially preferred to postpone or erase any dream of this college, the Sisters chose the unconventional, simple, yet adverse path, of leading themselves into a arena of which they had a fundamental right to enter.
By choosing to accept challenge and found this institution, 94 years later I have the opportunity to learn in memory of their journey; I have the opportunity to choose any path I wish, no matter how untraveled, no matter of my gender.
Thank you, Founding Sisters! Looking forward to starting the year in the wonderful campus that you built for me.
Emily