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Nancy Hodges (October 28, 1888 – December 15, 1969) was a Canadian journalist, politician and Senator.

Nancy Hodges was the first woman to run for the Liberal Party in British Columbia in 1937. Although losing this election, she ran again in 1941 and succeeded, staying in power until 1953. She also was elected as Speaker of the Legislature, which resulted in her being the first woman in the Commonwealth of Nations to hold office. She attended a public meeting conference for the United Nations in 1945 in San Francisco, where the first charter was signed. Appointed to the Senate in 1953, Hodges represented the senatorial division of Victoria, British Columbia, where she served until her resignation. All throughout, Hodges, along with Tilly Rolston and three other women, formed the Liberal-Progressive-Conservative Coalition. She was known as a powerful female rights activist in the Commonwealth.

Personal Life
Born in London, England, Nancy Hodges attended King's College at the London University. She and her husband, Harry P. Hodges, moved to Victoria, British Columbia, in 1916 due to him needing a dry climate for recovery for his tuberculosis. She then found a job as the women's editor for the Victoria Day Times, where she had a daily column. Through 30 years of being an esteemed journalist, she produced over 2,550 columns. Along with her passion for the paper, she was involved in the Victoria Business and Professional Women's Club, where she became a charter member, and later President.

Political Life
Hodges first ran for the Liberal Party in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1937. Her platform was based on increasing the quality of social conditions, resulting in better old-age pensions. Other ideas included bettering medical services and insurance, protection of single women, and compensation benefits for the working class. These ideas prompted all other provinces to follow suit after. After losing this election, Hodges later ran for the same position in 1941 and was elected to represent the riding of Victoria City. She had a vision of strength in unity for the Canadian Federation. Hodges took interest in the Business and Professional Women, where her slogan was born: "equal pay for equal work!" She had a strong belief that more women should be entering into politics to make a positive change.

Hodges was re-elected in 1945 and 1949. She attended a public meeting conference for the United Nations in 1945 for International Peace in San Francisco. In this meeting, the Charter of the United Nations was first signed. In 1950, she was elected as Speaker of the Legislature, becoming the first woman in the Commonwealth of Nations to hold that office. After being named speaker of the unicameral assembly of British Columbia, in 1950, she hinted towards "political repayment" and objected to the appointment on the grounds of sex. Because of this, she was distinguished as one of the most vocal of its legislators. During her time as Speaker of the Legislature, Hodges toured North America, including visits to The Californian Business and Professional Women's Club, The Canadian Federation of Liberal Women, and The Women's Canadian Club in Ottawa. In July of 1950, Hodges was invited to The Halifax Convention of the Federation of Canadian Business and Professional Women's Clubs where she was named Canadian Woman of 1950.

Appointed to the Senate in 1953, Nancy Hodges represented the senatorial division of Victoria, British Columbia, and served until her resignation in 1965. Increase in salary for underpaid government workers, teachers, and mothers was proposed by Hodges once in the position of Senate. She later became the President of the National Association of Liberal Women. During her time as the Senator, Hodges was a member of numerous committees, including the Standing Committee on Immigration and Labour, the Standing Committee on Internal Economy and Contingent Accounts, and the Standing Committee on Divorce. Along with being a member of Senate committees, she was also a member of various Joint Committees including those of Restaurant and Parliament, and Capital and Corporal Punishment and Lotteries.

Liberal-Progressive-Conservative Coalition
When Nancy Hodges was elected on October 21, 1941, her rival, Tilly Rolston, became the first Conservative woman to ever sit in the British Columbia Legislature. Touring the Province during elections in 1949, solicitation of votes for the coalition took place. The Liberal-Progressive-Conservative Coalition happened solely on political agencies being so strong. Hodges and Rolston were so different that when this coalition took place, they were not happy about it. Being in the same political bed developed tensions between the two, but also forced such an important historical event to take place.

Along with Hodges and Rolston, three other women from the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party held the coalition together from 1941-1945. The coalition stood its ground for another five years following that.

 

The elected leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party, Byron Johnson, had Hodges lead the campaign, which lead to her becoming the Liberal Premier of the coalition with the Conservatives. Although she could have become cabinet minister, speculation over if she could handle a cabinet job took over, which lead to a public article being issued in a newspaper covering how she would never accept a cabinet job.

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