, ▁but ▁was ▁denied ▁ad mission ▁on ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁gender . ▁Instead , ▁she ▁attended ▁King ston ▁Women ' s ▁Medical ▁College , ▁then ▁transferred ▁to ▁Bishop ' s ▁College , ▁where ▁she ▁completed ▁her ▁studies ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 1 , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁to ▁ear n ▁a ▁medical ▁degree ▁in ▁Québec . ▁ ▁As ▁medical ▁students ▁at ▁Bishop ' s , ▁Oct avia ▁Grace ▁R itch ie ▁and ▁Mau de ▁Abb ott ▁formed ▁an ▁organization , ▁Association ▁for ▁the ▁Professional ▁Education ▁of ▁Women , ▁to ▁advoc ate ▁for ▁other ▁women ▁seeking ▁medical ▁or ▁other ▁advanced ▁degrees . ▁ ▁Career ▁R itch ie ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁Dem on str ator ▁in ▁An atom y ▁at ▁Bishop ' s ▁College , ▁and ▁assistant ▁g yna ec ologist ▁at ▁Western ▁Hospital . ▁After ▁she ▁married , ▁she ▁turned ▁more ▁to ▁advoc acy ▁work , ▁supporting ▁causes ▁for ▁women ' s ▁rights ▁and ▁public ▁health . ▁She ▁was ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁local ▁Council ▁of ▁Women ▁from ▁ 1 9 1 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 1 7 ; ▁she ▁was ▁also ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Montr éal ▁Women ' s ▁Liberal ▁Club , ▁from ▁ 1 9 2 1 , ▁and ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Council ▁of ▁Women ▁of ▁Canada . ▁ ▁She ▁represented ▁Canada ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 4 ▁International ▁Council ▁of ▁Women ▁meeting ▁in ▁Rome ▁; ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 2 , ▁she ▁once ▁again ▁represented ▁Canada , ▁this ▁time ▁at ▁the ▁Pan - American