Project
The 52
Stories of women who transformed Toronto
Did you know that 52% of Torontonians are women? Join Museum of Toronto as we bring their stories to life.
Spanning from the 1800s until today, this exhibition shines a spotlight on the change-makers, rebels, and revolutionaries within Toronto’s 52%. While some of these women’s stories are well known, others have gone relatively untold until today.
Plan Your Visit
The 52: The Exhibition
Discover the stories of 52 women who shaped Toronto through photos, artifacts & monologues.
- 401 Richmond Street West
Events
Tour
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 1:00pm-2:30pm
Curatorial Tours: Mother’s Day
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a special tour of The 52, honouring trailblazing women like Bernice Redmon and Jean Lumb through powerful family stories.
- 401 Richmond Street West
Performance
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 2:00pm-3:30pm
Curatorial Tours: In Her Own Words with Jill Andrew
Join a tour with Jill Andrew, one of the 52 women, as she shares her own stories, memories & insights.
- 401 Richmond Street West
Tour
June 4-7, 2025 | 6:30pm and 8:30pm
The 52: Live Theatrical Experience
Presented by Museum of Toronto in association with Luminato Festival: Features monologues & music celebrating Toronto’s women.
- City of Toronto Archives
Tour
Saturday, June 14, 2025 | 2:00pm-3:30pm
Curatorial Tours: In Her Own Words with Cathy Crowe
Join a tour with Cathy Crowe, one of the 52 women, as she her shares stories, memories & insights.
- 401 Richmond Street West
Tour
Saturday, June 28, 2025 | 2:00pm-3:30pm
Curatorial Tours: In Her Own Words with Cheri DiNovo
Join a tour with Cheri DiNovo, one of the 52 women, as she shares stories, memories & insights.
- 401 Richmond Street West
Tour
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 2:00pm-3:30pm
Curatorial Tours: In Her Own Words with Rosemary Sadlier
Join a tour with Rosemary Sadlier, one of the 52 women, as she her shares stories, memories & insights.
- 401 Richmond Street West
Watch
Who is Phyllis Bomberry?
A trailblazer for Indigenous women in sports. As a vocal advocate for racial unity within sports, her legacy lives on in Canadian sports today.
Video
Playlist
Watch the Stories Come to Life
Short, powerful videos spotlighting 52 women who transformed Toronto — one video at a time.
The 52: Women Who Transformed Toronto
Video
Explorer
Adrienne Clarkson
Angela James
Ausma Malik
Beatrice Worsley
Bernice Redmond
Bianca Andreescu
Blanche Lemco van Ginkel
Cathy Crowe
Cecilia Krieger
Cheri DiNovo
Clara Cynthia Benson
Columbia “Coco” Diaz
Diana Carter
Elizabeth “Elsie” MacGill
Emily Stowe
Emma Goldman
Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld
Flora MacDonald Denison
Frances Loring
Gar Yin Hune
Hazel McCallion
Jackie Shane
Jane Jacobs
Jean Lumb
Jeanne Parkin
Jennifer Hodge de Silva
Jill Andrew
Josephine Mandamin
Judith Snow
June Rowlands
Karen Kain
Kathleen Taylor
Kit Coleman
Laura Bulger
Lee Maracle
Lillian H. Smith
Margaret Atwood
Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Mary Fix
Menaka Thakkar
Min Sook Lee
Myrtle Cook McGowan
Penny Oleksiak
Phyllis Bomberry
Roberta Bondar
Rosalie Silberman Abella
Rosemary Sadlier
Rowena Hume
Saadia Muzaffar
Slova Greenberg
Susan Bailey
Verna Johnston
Read
Jackie Shane’s Story
How a Black, trans woman from the American South took Toronto's local music scene by storm.
Article • 12 min read
More Articles
More About the Project
This impact-filled multi-year project celebrates the myriad of ways women have contributed to various facets of city life – in art, culture, politics, sports, technology, business, and more.
We kicked off this journey with a participatory performance on September 23, 2023 as part of Nuit Blanche. In 2025, we launch both the official exhibition of The 52 and the live theatrical experience presented in association with Luminato Festival.
Presented in
Partnership with
Supported by
Learn More About our Monologues
As a part of The 52, we asked Canadian playwrights to create monologues interpreting the stories of the 52 women in our project. As a part of this exhibition, we’re thrilled to premiere these filmed monologues written by 24 award-winning Canadian playwrights. The playwrights include: Aida Jordao, Ali Joy Richardson, Anna Chatterton, Ashley Naomi Skye, Cheri Maracle, Coleen MacPherson, Diane Flacks, Erin Shields, Falen Johnson, Jo SiMalaya Alcampo, Jordi Mand, Julia Hune-Brown, Julie Tepperman, Kanika Ambrose, Keira Loughran, Lisa Ryder, Marcia Johnson, Marjorie Chan, Meghan Swaby, Ophira Calof, Sarena Parmar, Sedina Fiati, Shandra Spears, Sharada Eswar.
To bring these monologues to life, we brought together talent from across the country including: Aida Jordao, Alexandra Crenian, Ange Loft, Asha Vijayasham, Ashley Naomi Skye, Athena Lemarre, Barbara Gordon, Bryn Kennedy, Cara Rebecca, Carolyn Fe, Cheri Maracle, Danielle Ferrier, Diana Tso, Diane Flacks, Erica Anderson, Gloria Mampuya, Jane Miller, Jessica Greenberg, Krystal Kiran, Krystle Chance, Lara Arabian, Leesa Kopansky, Linda Goranson, Lisa Kovack, Lisa Ryder, Lori Nancy Kalamanski, Lyla Porter Follows, Margaret Evans, Mary Kelly, Mayko Nguyen, Mirabella Sundar Singh, Monica Dotter, Nicole Stamp, Niki Landau, Rebecca De La Cour, Sabrina Friedman, Sachi Lovatt, Sarah Horsman, Sasha Wentges, Sedina Fiati, Shandra Spears, Shira Leuchter, Soo Garay, Steph Jung, Susan Burnett, Teri Lake, Tiffany Claire Martin, Tommie-Amber Pirie, Tonjha Richardson, Tracey Hoyt, Valerie Boyle, Vicki Kim.
Learn More About our Artifacts
In the space, you can explore films, personal objects, photographs, letters and mementos of the women as well as material culture from our city. We’re thrilled to display these objects from personal collections, the City of Toronto Archives, and Toronto History Museums’ Fine Art and Artifact Collection.