Vancouver Women’s Caucus

In mid-1968, a group of students and faculty at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver began meeting to discuss women’s issues and formed the Vancouver Women’s Caucus (VWC) as a club at SFU. In 1969, the VWC moved out of SFU into its own office and began publishing a newsletter, the forerunner of The Pedestal Newspaper. The early membership of VWC accepted the Marxist analysis of the family. VWC activism has included the Abortion Caravan, and the Working Women’s Workshop as well as the formation of the Association of University and College Employees (AUCE), and the Service, Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada (SORWUC).

More about Vancouver Women’s Caucus

The website Vancouver Women’s Caucus  – A Women’s Liberation History Project was launched in 2017 and continues to grow as organizers add more information, recollections, and materials.  Explore the website directly to learn more about the history of VWC activism, including the Abortion Caravan, the Working Women’s Workshop, and the formation of the Association of University and College Employees (AUCE), and the Service, Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada (SORWUC).

The archival materials from the Vancouver Women’s Caucus website that also appear on Rise Up! are posted with permission of A Women’s Liberation History Project organizers.  Rise Up! will continue to add to this collection over time.

Archival Materials

Documents
A Report Back to the Simon Fraser Left on Women’s Caucus Summer Organizing (1969)

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Author(s):

    Marcy Cohen, Jean Rands

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Abortion Laws are Killing People

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Author(s):

    Jeannine Mitchell

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Decision-Making in Women’s Caucus

  • Year created:

    --

  • Author(s):

    Pat Hoffer

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Discussion Paper – Towards a Strategy

  • Year created:

    --

  • Author(s):

    Melody Kilian

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Education as a Priority

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Individualism vs. A Mass Movement: Women’s Caucus Discussion Paper (1970)

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Author(s):

    Carole Mortenson, Jean Rands, Maggie Benston

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Letter to B.C. Attorney General and Minister of Health Services – March 10, 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Politics in Women’s Liberation: is it necessary?

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Author(s):

    Anne Roberts

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Poverty – Canada’s Legacy to Women (1969)

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Author(s):

    Alice James

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Proposal for a Women’s Studies Program at Simon Fraser University (1974)

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Author(s):

    Benston, David, Eliot Hurst, Janssen, Ismail, Kilgore, Lebowitz, Newcombe, Rush, Webb

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Regional Conference Invitation

  • Year created:

    --

  • Author(s):

    Marge Hallibaugh

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Letter – Abortion Strategy

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Women’s Caucus – A History and Analysis

  • Year created:

    --

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Women’s Caucus Working Paper: The Problem of Priorities

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Author(s):

    Jean Rands

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Women’s Work: A Collection of Articles by Working Women

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Author(s):

    Pat Uhl, Elizabeth Dube, Helen Potrebenko

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English

Films

Black and white archival image of white women protestors on the steps of the Art Gallery in Vancouver holding various pro-choice banners.
Vancouver Women’s Caucus March: Abortion Is Our Right, 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Filmmaker(s):

    Rhoda Rosenfeld

  • Language:

    English

  • Region:

    British Columbia

Periodicals

The Pedestal

Pedestal – Vol. 1, No. 1 – Fall 1969

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Marcy Toms, Marcy Cohen, Sylvia Lindstrom, Barb Finlayson, Alice James, Margaret Douglas, Angela Hamilton, Doreen Boal, Fran Dinwoodie, Liz Briemberg

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 2, No. 4 – May 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 2, No. 5 – June 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 2, No. 6 – July/August 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 2, No. 7 – September 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 2, No. 8 – October 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 2, No. 9 – November 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 1 – January 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 10 – November 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 11 – December 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 2 – February 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 3 – March 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 4 – April 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 5 – May 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 6 – June 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 7 – July 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 8 – August/September 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 3, No. 9 – October 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 1 – January 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 10 – December 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 2 – February 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 3 – March 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 4 – April 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 5 – May 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 6 – July 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    Alberta

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 7 – August 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 8 – October 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 4, No. 9 – November 1972

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 5, No. 1 – January 1973

  • Year created:

    1972

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 5, No. 2 – February 1973

  • Year created:

    1973

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 5, No. 3 – March 1973

  • Year created:

    1973

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 5, No. 4 – April 1973

  • Year created:

    1973

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 5, No. 5 – June 1973

  • Year created:

    1973

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 5, No. 6 – October 1973

  • Year created:

    1973

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 6, No. 1 – January 1974

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 6, No. 2 – February 1974

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 6, No. 3 (renamed Women Can)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 6, No. 4 (renamed Women Can)

  • Year created:

    --

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 6, No. 5 – August 1974

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 7, No. 1 – 1975

  • Year created:

    1975

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 7, No. 2 – August/September 1975

  • Year created:

    1975

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. 7, No. 3 – October/November 1975

  • Year created:

    1975

  • Publisher:

    The Pedestal Collective

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. I, No. 2 – Winter 1969

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Mary Stolk, Eleanor Laubley, Alice James, D.J. O'Donnell, Diane Shrenk, Dodie Weppler, Jean Rends, Betsy Meadley, Maggie Benston

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. II, No. 1 – February 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Margaret Benston, Sally Mahood, Maija Crane, Cathy Walker

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. II, No. 10 – December 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. II, No. 2 – March 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Sylvia Kitching, Gael Koob, Diana Moore, Sheila Rowbotham, Sharon Lambert, Laura Neame, Ellen Woodsworth, Janiel Jolley, Marcy Cohen, Sue Claus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pedestal – Vol. II, No. 3 – April 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Linda Sperling, Bonita Beckman, Jean McLaren, Barbara Robertson, Georgina Kollonay, Lynn Currie, Diane Shrenk

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English

Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter

Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – August 1969

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – February 1971

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – January 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – June 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – March 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Mary Metheson

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – May 1970

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – November 1969

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Vancouver Women’s Caucus Newsletter – September 1969

  • Year created:

    1969

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Caucus

  • Author(s):

    Jean Rands, Janiel Jolley, Boukje Elzinga, Dodie Weppler, Sue Claus, Betsy Meadley, Orleen Martin, Marge Hollibaugh

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English

Photos

Vancouver women lead the Ottawa march down Wellington Street with a banner proclaiming "Abortion is Our Right". Gwen Hauser is on the right in the picture.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Leading the Ottawa March

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)
Bonnie Beckwoman was an original member of the Abortion Caravan.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Bonnie Beckwoman

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Cathy Walker was one of the original members of the Abortion Caravan in 1970.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Cathy Walker

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Colette Malo was one of the original members of the Abortion Caravan in 1970.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Colette Malo

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Supporters gather in Vancouver as the Abortion Caravan heads off for Ottawa towards the end of April 1970. The Caravan vehicles with slogans painted along the sides are, front to back, Cathy Walker’s Volkswagen van, Betsy Wood’s (Meadley) convertible, and Charlotte Bedard’s truck.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Heading Off From Vancouver

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Photographer:

    Charlotte Bedard

  • Region:

    British Columbia
The May 8th Vancouver Demonstration took place in solidarity with the Abortion Caravan and the protests in Ottawa. Anne Roberts and Jean Rands, dressed in men's suits, represent John Munro, Federal Minister of Health, and Ralph Loffmark, B.C. Minister of Health.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – May 8 Demonstration in Vancouver

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Pat Davitt was a member of the Vancouver Women's Caucus which organized a campaign for abortion rights in the spring of 1970 and initiated the Abortion Caravan.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Pat Davitt

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Photographer:

    Anne Roberts

  • Region:

    British Columbia
This photo taken was during a gas stop near Hope, British Columbia during Abortion Caravan's trip across Canada. Betsy Wood is on the left side of her convertible with an "On to Ottawa" sign fastened on the front. On the right side, from left to right: Dodie Weppler, Ellen Woodsworth, Gwen Hauser, and Bonnie Beckwoman.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Stop in Hope, B.C.

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Photographer:

    Charlotte Bedard

  • Region:

    British Columbia
This is a photo of Anne Roberts dressed in a man's suit for the Vancouver May 8th March organized in solidarity with the Abortion Caravan and the Ottawa March. Anne and Jean Rands appeared as Health Ministers John Munro and Ralph Loffmark.
Abortion Caravan (1970) – Vancouver Solidarity March

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    British Columbia
Barb Hicks and unidentified woman work newspaper of the Vancouver Women's Caucus, around the time of the Abortion Caravan.
Working on “The Pedestal”

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Photographer:

    Anne Roberts

  • Region:

    British Columbia

Posters

This poster, and a smaller notecard, were produced and sold to raise funds to help pay costs of the 1971 IndoChinese Women’s Conference sponsored by women's liberation groups in Vancouver, including costs for the venue, food, billeting delegates, and transportation of the delegates within Canada.
In Solidarity with Our Sisters of Indochina

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
These posters were produced and posted widely throughout Vancouver, particularly on college and university campuses, to attract people to attend a benefit dance for the 1971 Indo-Chinese Women’s Conference sponsored by women's liberation groups in Vancouver.
Red Moon Rising: Indochinese Conference Benefit

  • Year created:

    1971

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
The Women are Coming: Abortion Caravan

  • Year created:

    1970

  • Region:

    Ontario

  • Language:

    English