Ottawa is recognizing Canada’s first female forensic pathologist as a person of national historic significance.
Dr. Frances McGill, known for helping the RCMP solve mysterious deaths, earned the distinction earlier this month, 65 years after she passed away.
“The sudden deaths are what she could actually relate to because she was one who had seen that happen with her family,” said writer Myrna Petersen.
McGill was born and raised in Manitoba. In 1900, both her parents died suddenly after drinking contaminated water at a county fair.
McGill graduated at the top of her class with a degree in medicine in 1915. A few years later, she moved to Saskatchewan where she worked as the provincial bacteriologist. Eventually, she worked her way up to director of the provincial laboratory.
“She was way ahead of her time as far as what women were able to do,” Petersen said.
“Within three or four …