Laura Sabia, was a Canadian social activist and feminist. Born Laura Villela in Montreal, Quebec, the daughter of Italian immigrants, she played an important part, in the National Chair of the Committee for the Equality of Women, in the creation of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women called by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in February 1967. Sabia received her education at Ville-Marie Convent and McGill University. While in Montreal, Laura was noted as the first female to be a part of St. Catharines Separate School Board in 1953, additionally being the president of multiple disciplines including YMCA and the Community Lecture Series. She was a founding member and, from 1969 to 1973, the first president, of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. She was an alderwoman for St. Catharines City Council and wrote columns for The Toronto Sun in the 1970s and 80s. She also held the president position at the Canadian Federation of University Women and used her position to reach and inspire woman into pursuing higher education politics. Sabia's contribution continued onto 1975 when she and 10 other women participated in a project for International Women at the United Nations Conference. Sabia was a two-time candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. In the 1968 general election, she finished second in the riding of St. Catharines, Ontario, losing by fewer than 4,000 votes, and came in third in a 1981 by-election in the Toronto riding of Spadina, losing by 1,005 votes. In 1974, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for her devoted service to the cause of the status of women". In 1983, she was awarded the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She was married to Michael Sabia and had four children: Maureen, Colleena, Mary-Michael and Michael John, former head of Bell Canada Enterprises. Michael John Sabia is married to Hilary Pearson, the granddaughter of former Prime Minister Lester Pearson. Sabia's eldest daughter Maureen became a lawyer at the age of 24, while her other daughter graduated at the University of Toronto in 1966. Sabia said: "I want my girls to do something different. Maybe I want to prove that women can go into all-male professions." Sabia believes that during women’s homemaking years, they fail to be able to understand and meet with the economic, social and political developments in Canada. She addresses the importance of women who possess a university education, reflects an advantage. Women can participate completely in the business, financial and political worlds. Sabia states that the marriage reflected in the cultural pattern shows how women are to blame for pushing too early dating, early courtship and early marriage. In order for change to occur, Sabia enforces the belief that women must stop thinking that marriage is the only goal in life. Instead, they should gain as much education as they can. In 1966, high schools guided girls into traditional roles, as they were not challenged into something excited to their imagination or to excel in mathematics and sciences nor are they urged to enter these professions related to these subjects. Sabia expresses disbelief as the staggering number of women who are Ph.D. graduates in science, accounted for only 5% of women in 1966. At this time, it was deemed "unnatural" for a girl to possess scientific talent Sabia is a firm believer that women are qualified and should reach out to what was once traditionally "male" positions such as political, professional and economic sectors. Sabia noticed that in universities there are unequal numbers of men and women. She concluded that this was a result of Guidance Counsellor’s advocating for traditional roles for girls which geared them away from pursuing careers which was traditionally for men. To propel our community forward, Sabia noted that we must shed light and integrate qualified women into our society. Women should be presented with the same rights and opportunities that men get, such that not only men is holding positions of power. Furthermore, it is brought to the public’s attention by Sabia that less than 1% full time university professors are women even though there are many qualified women for the position. Sabia criticizes the government of prejudice against women. She expresses that she is "sick and tired" of witnessing women being placed on commission in order to make them "satisfied". She says: "We talk of women in politics but we have to give them opportunities. Few areas give opportunities to women. Men get them first." “A women has to make the ultimate decision of what is best of herself, her husband and her family. She can raise her family and then develop her potential.” She died of Parkinson's disease on October 17, 1996, in Toronto, Ontario.
