Human Rights A Day

Canada appoints world’s first woman ambassador, Margaret Meagher. Margaret Meagher was a Nova Scotia teacher who entered Canada’s foreign service before women were formally allowed to do so. In fact, she managed to achieve a diplomatic position in Mexico before women were allowed to take a foreign service officer’s entry exam, so she wrote hers in 1947 from Mexico. When she was appointed Canada’s ambassador to Israel on October 22, 1958, she became the first woman in the world to hold such a job. Her career entailed many postings, including a stint as ambassador to Sweden in 1969, where as she opened relations with China as Canada’s negotiator. After 32 years of service, she retired in 1974, and was awarded the Order of Canada that same year. Meagher died on February 25, 1999. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.