The more science learns what life is, the more reluctant scientists are to define it.
– Leila M. Coyne, 1985
March 3, 1678 – heroine, Marie Madelaine Jarret de Vercheres was born in Quebec Canada. When only a teenager, she became an unlikely heroine when she and her siblings defended the family fort against attack. Madelaine’s story is included in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
March 10, 1796 – writer Julia Catherine Hart was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She wrote her first book “St. Ursula’s Convent” or “The Nun of Canada” when she was only 17 years old. Her book was the first published book of fiction written by a native born Canadian
March 10, 1861 – poet Emily Pauline Johnson was born on Six Nations Indian Reserve Canada. She was the first native born, Cultural Ambassador. She worked for unity for all people. Emily Pauline Johnson’s biography Flint and Feather, published in 2002 and written by Charlotte Gray, won the University of British Columbia medal for biography.
March 5, 1916 – member of the Canadian Hall of Fame, Phyllis Dewar was born. She held every single Canadian freestyle swimming record from 100 yards to one mile in both 1934 and 1935. As a result, she was selected as the Canadian Woman Athlete of the Year in 1934. The same year she won a gold medal at the British Empire Games.
March 30, 1932 – pilot, Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. In 1935, she became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the Mainland. On June 1, 1937, Amelia began a round the world flight accompanied by Fred Noonan. They missed their expected landing and were never heard from again.
March 6, 1942 – artist Irene F. Whittome was born. Sculptures and etchings were her chosen medium and she held many one-woman shows throughout several Canadian galleries and museums. Her work received much acclaim, including the Victor Martyn-Staunton Award in 1991. In 2002, she received a Governor General’s Visual and Media Arts Award.
March 27, 1962 – Juno award winning musician Jann Arden was born in Calgary, Alberta. Jann battled alcoholism at a young age. She released her first album in 1993 and continues to produce hit records.
March 18, 1964 – Olympic Gold Metal winner, Bonnie Blair was born. She was a speed skater who won five Olympic Gold Medals and one bronze during the Winter Olympics in 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1994.
