Caroline Dessaulles-Béique

Caroline Dessaulles-Béique, born on October thirteenth, eighteen fifty-two, was a pioneering Canadian social activist and feminist. Her commitment to women's rights and education led her to co-found the Provincial Housewife's School, known in French as L'École Ménagère Provinciale. This institution would later evolve into the home economics department at the Université de Montréal, marking a significant advancement in women's education in Canada.

In addition to her educational contributions, Dessaulles-Béique was a passionate advocate for juvenile justice reform. She played a crucial role in pressing for the establishment of juvenile courts, recognizing the need for a legal framework that would protect and rehabilitate young offenders rather than punish them.

Her activism extended to the national stage as well, where she became a co-founder of the National Federation of Saint John the Baptist, or Fédération nationale Saint-Jean-Baptiste. This organization was the first national feminist group for French-speaking Canadian women, providing a platform for advocacy and support in the fight for women's rights.