Originally founded as the Canadian Women's Press Club and open only to women, early members of the group included Kit Coleman, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy and Helen MacGill.
Notable people associated with Wawanesa have included suffragist Nellie McClung and Edna Diefenbaker, the first wife of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
Nellie Melba | Seth McClung | Nellie the Elephant | Nellie McClung | Nellie Connally | Nellie Bly | Nellie Pou | Nellie Dean | Nellie Cashman | Charles McClung McGhee | Nellie Y. McKay | Nellie Wong | Nellie Verrill Mighels Davis | Nellie Tayloe Ross | Nellie Shabalala | Nellie Kim | Nellie Clifden | Little Nellie Kelly | Alfred McClung Lee | A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium |
Nellie McClung Elementary and John Ware Junior High School have a GATE program.