Muriel Duckworth

Muriel Duckworth, born on October thirty-first, nineteen oh eight, was a prominent Canadian pacifist, feminist, and dedicated social and community activist. As a practising Quaker, she was deeply committed to the principles of non-violence, which shaped her views on war and social justice. Duckworth believed that war, with its inherent violence against women and children, posed a significant barrier to achieving social equity. She argued that the financial resources allocated to armaments not only perpetuate poverty but also reinforce the dominance of privileged elites. Her conviction that 'war is stupid' led her to reject the conventional distinctions between 'good' and 'bad' wars.

A founding member of the Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace, Duckworth played a crucial role in advocating for peace as part of the national organization, Voice of Women (VOW). From nineteen sixty-seven to nineteen seventy-one, she served as the president of VOW, where she led protests against the Canadian government's tacit support for the US-led war in Vietnam. Her activism extended beyond peace efforts; she was also the first woman in Halifax to run for a seat in the Nova Scotia legislature, championing community organizing initiatives aimed at improving education, housing, social assistance, and municipal planning.

In her later years, Duckworth became involved with the Halifax chapter of the Raging Grannies, a group known for composing and performing satirical ballads that promote social justice. Her lifelong commitment to activism earned her numerous accolades, including the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case in nineteen eighty-one and the Order of Canada in nineteen eighty-three. Additionally, she was honored with the Pearson Medal of Peace in nineteen ninety-one and received ten honorary university degrees throughout her distinguished career.