If Helen Armstrong had kept a diary through the suffrage movement in Canada at the turn of the century, what do you think she would have written about? Put yourself in the person’s shoes for this assignment. Choose two important events from this woman’s life and write two diary entries about each in first person. Try to make it sound as if this woman in Canadian history had written it. To ensure a high level of written work, use at least two literary devices per diary entry.

If Helen Armstrong had kept a diary, she likely would have reflected on the resistance she faced and her dreams for social change. Important events to consider include her arrest and her role as the only woman on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council. These events likely made her feel many complex emotions, including frustration and motivation to work harder.

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Helen Armstrong was an important figure in the Canadian suffrage movement. She was an activist who fought for labor rights in a time where it was uncommon for women to do so. There are many possible thoughts she might have reflected on in a diary. For example, she might have expressed feelings of exasperation at the resistance she got from those in power. She might also have written about what it felt like to be one of the only women doing the work she did. Consider how Armstrong was the only woman on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council. Her gender identity must have played a role in how others perceived her opinions and ideas. It would be interesting to consider whether the judgments she faced frustrated her or motivated her to work harder.

It is also noteworthy that Helen Armstrong was arrested for encouraging other women to engage in disorderly behavior that brought attention to her cause. If Armstrong had kept a diary, it is likely that she would have reflected on that experience and what she thought it showed about the treatment of women in society. Ultimately there is no right or wrong way to go about this assignment, as long as you reference accurate historical events and take into account Armstrong’s impassioned spirit.

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