If you see Jean Hewitt walking down the street in early 1900s attire this weekend, there's a few things you need to know.

Firstly, suffragettes from the London region would have worn similar outfits exactly 100 years ago. That's when the federal government extended the right to vote to some Canadian women over the age of 21.

Also, Hewitt's costume encompasses a striking level of symbolism that you would have seen from suffragettes. Her sash contains three distinct colours: white for purity, purple to represent the crown and green for hope.

Hewitt will be wearing her suffragette outfit to the women's march in London Saturday to celebrate 100 years of women having the vote in Canada.

As one of the organizers, she told CBC Radio's London Morning it's a reminder that "we stand on the backs of our grandmothers and great grandmothers and great great grandmothers."

Renewed importance

Sure, 2018 marks a big anniversary in the suffragette movement. But Hewitt also sees this year's celebration as being significant for another reason.

It serves as a reminder to young women that women's rights can be fragile.

"We win rights, but we see that those rights can always be eroded," said Hewitt.

She still remains optimistic though about the future of equal rights and believes we are entering a third wave of feminism.

"It came out of the march in Washington, which was meant to celebrate the first woman president but became something much different," said Hewitt.

"What it turned into was an examination and a look more closely at misogyny."

Ontario suffragettes

During the march, Hewitt will be thinking about suffragettes from southern Ontario, including Dr. Emily Stowe and Anges MacPhail.

Stowe, originally from Woodstock, was the first female public school principal in Ontario and the first female physician in Canada. MacPhail, who grew up in Grey County and then went to school in Owen Sound and Stratford, was the first woman elected to the House of Commons.

Hewitt points out there are many other women who aren't in the history books that she will also be remembering on Saturday.

And she says the 100-year-anniversary certainly wasn't a victory for all. For example, the government didn't give Indigenous women the right to vote until years later.

But Hewitt is inspired by the focus of young women today on ensuring equal rights for all marginalized communities.

"Equality means equality in all ways," said Hewitt.

All are welcome to join the march. It leaves at 11 a.m. from the Normal School in Wortley Village and goes to Eldon House at Ridout Street and Dufferin Avenue. People are also invited to a gathering for food and drinks at Eldon House at 12:15 p.m.