Dr. Marion Powell
The Mother of Birth Control in Canada
Dr. Marion Powell is recognized as the Mother of Birth Control in Canada. As a physician, medical researcher, and advocate for women’s health, she dedicated over fifty years of her career to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
This exhibit details Dr. Powell’s contributions to the family planning movement in Canada, highlighting her efforts to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services during the 20th century. This work earned her recognition among a generation of young Canadians.
Her story is shared using her own words and significant achievements, which are recorded through Dr. Powell’s personal papers, photographs, audio and film recordings, and medical artifact collection preserved at the Archives of Women’s College Hospital.