Who We Are

The Status of Women Councils (SWC) have played a vital role in the fight for Women’s Equality since the 1970s. The Councils’ existence can be partially attributed to the Royal Commission on the Status of Women which was created in 1967 by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. This Commission was given the mandate to “inquire into and report upon the status of women in Canada, and to recommend what steps might be taken by the federal government to ensure for women equal opportunities with men in all aspects of Canadian society”. The inquiry revealed numerous inequities which generated significant challenges for women in all areas of life. Recommendations dealt with a range of issues including housing, daycare, sexual stereotyping, and labour standards. Newfoundland (along with PEI and Nova Scotia) were counselled to change their legislation to ensure that women received the same minimum wage as men. Additional outcomes generated by the report included a significant increase in the public’s awareness of women’s issues and the formation of numerous feminist groups, including the inception of eight Status of Women Councils in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In Gander, a group of women expressed interest in starting a Status of Women Council. Following a series of discussions with Iris Kirby (from the Federal Secretary of State) the Council held their first meeting in May 1983. Present at this meeting was guest speaker Ann Bell, then President of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the fourteen women who volunteered to serve on the new Council’s Steering Committee. They were:

Pat Kennedy and Marie Matheson who served as co-chairs
Geri Devereaux and Marion White, Treasurers
Crystal Egan, Publicity
Teri LeDrew and Jocelyn Sirois, in the role of consecutive Secretaries
Gail Butt and Paula Waterman, Phone Committee
Debbie LeDrew
Nancy Green
Heather Taylor
Bonnie Pritchett
Linda Carroll

The Gander Status of Women Council was officially founded in May 1984. The Council sought and was successful in receiving some of the Federal funding required to open the Gander Women’s Centre, on February 27, 1985.

Initially, the members of the newly formed Gander Status of Women Council (GSWC) focused on increasing its membership as well as “big picture” ideas such as the roadblocks encountered by women in politics and business. Shortly after opening the Centre’s doors, it became apparent to members of the GSWC that a majority of women who dropped into the Centre were dealing with issues such as poverty, shortage of day care spaces and violence against women. This knowledge combined with a sensitivity to the challenges faced by women service users, directed discussions and generated some ground breaking work. That is addition to philosophizing and working on “big picture” ideas such as the unequal power relations between the sexes, the GSWC addressed “realities” such as family violence and the need of women and their dependents for “security and shelter” upon leaving their unsafe environments.

The following is a summary of the work undertaken by the Gander Status of Women Council.

A weekly column in the local paper that provided information on topics such as breast cancer, housing, child and income support and non-traditional jobs for women
Creation of a Transition House Committee (1986) and eventual opening of Cara Transition House.
‘We Deserve A Better Life.’(1992) — A video documentary that examined family violence in the Central Newfound area
‘Inquest for Justice; (1993) — A Provincial Women’s Conference which brought women together to examine various aspects of justice in their lives
Examination of Parole and Conditional Release system(1993)
Proposal to conduct a gender equity analysis of the Legal Aid Program in Newfoundland and Labrador (1994). The application was denied but the Council’s community leadership, persistence and advocacy was demonstrated when the proposal was resubmitted to the Status of Women Canada in 1997. At that time the Council was successful in receiving funding.
‘Gender Matters: A Gender Equity Analysis of Legal Aid in Newfoundland and Labrador’ (2001) This report had a significant impact on the administration of parole and the role of the victim in the parole process
Making Waves to Create a Just Millennium (1999) title of the Atlantic Women’s Conference organized by the GSWC. The Legal Aid program was one of the main topics of discussion.
Custody and Access project (2002). This project was initiated by the GSWC in response to concerns about the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Divorce Act.

The GSWC continues to work towards achieving social, cultural, economic, legal, and political equality for all women.

Sources:

Condon, Elaine et al. Gender Matters: A Gender Equity Analysis of Legal Aid in Newfoundland and Labrador, Gander Status of Women Council, 2001
Hussey, Joanne et al. In Whose Best Interests? Women, Custody and Access in Newfoundland and Labrador, Gander Status of Women Council 2002
“Let’s Teach About The Women’s Movement in Newfoundland and Labrador 1970 to 1989”. Memorial University. 2005. Web 14 Apr. 2014 WWW.MUN.CA/VIRT/MAKINGWAVES/WOMENCOUNCIL/GANDER.PHP
“Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada.” Government of Canada, Status of Women Canada, Communications and Public Affairs Directorate. This is a copy of the version available at WWW.WOMEN.GC.CA.