From Criminal Code Amendments to maternity leave to Bill C-127, these are the key moments in Canadian history that made a big difference to women.

While much of our current attention is on the state of women's rights in Canada today, it's always a good idea to reflect on how far we've come. Though, you might be surprised at how recently some of these rights and freedoms were extended to women. Case in point? Women have only had the right to vote in Canada for the past 100 years—and Aboriginal women didn't get the right to vote until 1960. Still, we'll celebrate these victories as we look to the future and continue the conversation about women's rights in Canada and the world.

Here are 10 key moments that have defined women's rights in Canada.

1884-1964

Starting in Ontario in 1884, the creation of the Married Women’s Property Act means that married Ontario women have the same legal rights as men and can purchase property. Manitoba is the next province to follow suit in 1900 and gradually other provinces and territories do the same.

1909

An amendment to the Criminal Code criminalizes kidnapping of women. Previously, the abduction of a woman over the age of 16 was legal unless the woman was an heiress.

1916-1960

Caucasian women are slowly given the right to vote in Canada, starting with provincial elections in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1916. By 1918, all Caucasian women are able to vote in federal elections, but it takes until 1951 for provincial voting privileges to extend to white women in every province and territory. In 1960, Aboriginal women finally get the vote.

1921

British Columbia passes legislation that gives women six weeks maternity leave before and after giving birth. No other province or territory has maternity leave until 1964.

1928

For the first time, Canada’s Olympic Team includes female athletes.

1929

Thanks to the petitions of Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy and Irene Parlby, women become persons under the law and can hold political office. One year later, Cairine Reay Wilson becomes the first woman appointed to the Senate. Inspired? But there are also many more Canadian women who made an impact on us.

1951

Ontario passes the Fair Employment Practices Act (creating fines and a complaints system to minimize discrimination) and the Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act (to tackle the gender wage gap).

1985

Sections 15 and 28 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms come into effect, establishing the constitutional right to equality. The government cannot discriminate against individuals based on their sex or sexual orientation.

1983

The passing of Bill C-127 makes sexual assault (and rape) within the context of marriage a crime.

1993

Kim Campbell serves as Canada’s first woman Prime Minister for less than five months.

Read up on these 10 Canadian ladies paving the way for women everywhere, if you're looking to the future of women's rights in Canada.