Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

The Vancouver Women’s Health Collective (VWHC) began in 1971 as a place for women to share their experiences with the healthcare system and organize around the inadequacy of that system in recognizing and caring for their issues and needs. Over time, the organization developed into a clinic to provide healthcare for women in a supportive setting, in addition to continuing as a centre for advocacy and change. The VWHC operated as a collective and aimed to empower women to take control over their own health through information, self-advocacy, and organizing.  

More about Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

Adapted from the VWHC website

The Vancouver Women’s Health Collective began in 1971 as a place for women to share their experiences with the healthcare system and organize around the inadequacy of that system in recognizing and caring for their issues and needs.  Over time, the organization developed into a clinic to provide healthcare for women in a supportive setting, in addition to continuing as a centre for advocacy and change. The VWHC operated as a collective and aimed to empower women to take control over their own health through information, self-advocacy, and organizing.

During the 1980s, the VWHC turned to providing information and resources for women and has been active in different ways around women’s health concerns and needs. One issue taken up by the VWHC was awareness about DES, a synthetic estrogen given to reduce the risk of miscarriage and which was later found to have serious health effects. The VWHC was also involved in actions against the makers of the IUD device known as the Dalkon Shield, which was found to cause serious harm to women using it.

The Vancouver Women’s Health Collective continues as a non-profit organization for those who self-identify as women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming, helping to foster health, wellness, and equity through feminist approaches.

Archival Materials

Documents
Natural Menopause Booklet

  • Year created:

    --

  • Author(s):

    Susan Moger

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English
Pap Tests Booklet – Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Author(s):

    Robin Barnett , Rebecca Fox, Barbara Mintzes, Fay Raymont

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English

Periodicals

Healthmatters

Dalkon Shield Action News – Vol. 1, No. 2 – Summer 1987

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Publisher:

    Dalkon Shield Action Canada / Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Megan Arundel, Barbara Bell, Colleen Penrowley, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English

Dalkon Shield Action News

Dalkon Shield Action News  – Vol 1., No.3 – Fall 1987

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Megan Arundel, Elaine Cumley, Shelley Hine, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English and French
Dalkon Shield Action News  – Vol. 1, No. 1

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Megan Arundel, Kn. Houlihan, Barbara Mintzes, Deborah Sexton, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English
Dalkon Shield Action News  – Vol. 2, No. 1 – February 1988

  • Year created:

    1988

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Megan Arundel, Lucy Crowther, Elaine Cumley, Laura Jones, Colleen Penrowley, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English and French

Healthmatters

Healthmatters – Vol. 2, No. 4

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Lee Saxell, Maggie Thompson, Antoinette Zanda

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 1, No. 1 – Spring 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 1, No. 3 – Fall 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Tina Crouse, Cathy Hluchy, Barb Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Barb Rines, Maggie Thompson, Lorna Zaback

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 1, No. 4 – Winter 1985/86

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Annette Clough, Cathy Hluchy, Barb Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Barb Rines, Margaret Sinclair, Terre Satterfield, Maggie Thompson, Lorna Zaback

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 2, No. 1 – Spring 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Annette Clough, Cathy Hluchy, Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Susan Prosser, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 2, No. 2 – Summer 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Oni Freeman, Rachel Grant, Daphne Hnatiuk, Cathy Hluchy, Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Susan Prosser, Fay Raymont, Heather Reid, Maggie Thompson, Antionette Zanda, "Friends of AMES" - Pat Hercus

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 2, No. 3 – Fall 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Annette Clough, Daphne Hnatiuk, Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 2, No. 4 – November 1986

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Lee Saxell, Maggie Thompson, Antoinette Zanda

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 2, No. 5 – Winter 1986/87

  • Year created:

    1986

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Cheryl Arratoon, Megan Arundell, Brie Collard, Patricia Hogan, Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Lee Saxell, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 3, No. 1 – Spring 1987

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Megan Arundel, Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Lee Saxell, Deborah Sexton, Maggie Thompson, Antionette Zanda

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 3, No. 2 – Fall 1987

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Lee Saxell, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol. 3, No. 2 – Summer 1987

  • Year created:

    1987

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Cheryl Arratoon, Barbara Bell, Daphne Hnatiuk, Colleen Penrowley, Lee Saxell, Joy Thompson, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English
Healthmatters – Vol.1, No. 2 – Summer 1985

  • Year created:

    1985

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Robin Barnett, Annette Clough, Anna Feindel, Barbara Mintzes, Colleen Penrowley, Maggie Thompson

  • Language:

    English

HealthSharing

Healthsharing – The Holiday Edition – December 1994

  • Year created:

    1994

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Language:

    English

Her Voice

Her Voice – Fall 2001

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Fall 2002

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Fall 2003

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver's Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Caryn Duncan

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – January 2001

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – January, 2005

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Belinda Shelton, Brenda Belak, lona Elgabry, Sacha Fink, Janis Drozdiak

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2001

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Angela J. Gray

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2002

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver's Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Terri Padavell

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2003

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Caryn Duncan

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2004

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Sacha Fink, Deborah Acor, Lesia Hnatiw

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2005

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2006

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Caryn Duncan, Jane Harper, Farnaz Houshmand, Lesia Hnatiw, Lisa Moore, Hillary Quinn, Belinda Shelton

  • Language:

    English
Her Voice – Spring 2007

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Author(s):

    Patrice Allen, Caryn Duncan, Farnaz Houshmand, Sonya Parmar, Beth Pentney, Mina Taheri

  • Language:

    English

Ideas Are Brewing

Ideas Are Brewing – December 1995

  • Year created:

    1995

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Penelope Hutchison, Sandra Lynne, Lu Hansen

  • Language:

    English
Ideas are Brewing – March 1997

  • Year created:

    1997

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Anna Rinaldo, Zenovia Ursulak, Caitlin Cain, Donna McDermot, Sue Turner, Anne Massey

  • Language:

    English
Ideas Are Brewing – November 1996

  • Year created:

    1996

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Carrie Gorkoff, Christiane Northrup, Anna Rinaldo

  • Language:

    English

Infusion

Infusion – Fall 1998

  • Year created:

    1998

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    A.J. Gray, Brenda Kent, Anne Merrett-Hiley, Lynn Wyminga, The Wild Wimmin of the VWHC Women's Health information Centre

  • Language:

    English
Infusion – Fall 1999

  • Year created:

    1999

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Silvia Musholt, Susan Boroevich, A.J. Gray, Carol Merrett-Hiley, Anne Merrett-Hiley

  • Language:

    English
Infusion – January 1998

  • Year created:

    1998

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Zenovia Ursuliak, Marilyn Trautman, Susan Ursuliak, Caitlin Cain, Kate Hook

  • Language:

    English
Infusion – July 1997

  • Year created:

    1997

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Raine McKay, Kate Laidlaw, Zenovia Ursuliak, Maureen Kirkpatrick, Anna Rinaldo, Susan Ursuliak, Debora O, Marilyn Trautman

  • Language:

    English
Infusion – Spring 1999

  • Year created:

    1999

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    A.J. Gray, Brenda Kent, Anne Merrett-Hiley, Lynn Wyminga, The Wild Wimmin of the Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Language:

    English
Infusion – Summer 2000

  • Year created:

    2000 or after

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Ana-Lisa Boye, Caryn Duncan, Pam Fichtner, Silvia Musholt

  • Language:

    English
Infusion – Winter 1998

  • Year created:

    1998

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    A.J. Gray, Brenda Kent, Anne Merrett-Hiley, Lynn Wyminga, The Wild Wimmin of the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Language:

    English

Our Newsletter – Vancouver Women's Health Collective

Our Newsletter – Vol. 1, No. 3 – March 1974

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Nancy Ryan, Melannie Conn, Morgan Fox, Mary Breen

  • Language:

    English

The Women's Health Rag

The Women’s Health Rag

  • Year created:

    1992

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Kate McCandless, Lu Hansen, Ingrid Deringer, Alexa Berton, Helen

  • Language:

    English
The Women’s Health Rag – Vol. 1, No. 2 – June 1992

  • Year created:

    1992

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Kate McCandless, Ingrid Deringer, Alexa Berton, Valda Dohlen, Winnie Kwok

  • Language:

    English

VWHC Title Contest

  • Year created:

    1991

  • Publisher:

    Vancouver Women's Health Collective

  • Author(s):

    Kate McCandless, Lu Hansen, Ingrid Deringer, Alexa Burton, Helen Vermeulen, Valda Dohlen, Sandra Lynn

  • Language:

    English

Photos

Photo of the Vancouver Women's Health Collective section of the Banner Project. Women's groups across Canada were asked to produce a protest banner that would become part of a huge banner in Ottawa. The goal was to show the strength and solidarity of women during the Third Commonwealth meeting of Ministers Responsible for Women’s Affairs in October 1990.
The Banner Project (1990): Vancouver Women’s Health Collective

  • Year created:

    1990

  • Photographer:

    Amy Gottlieb

  • Region:

    National (all of Canada)

Posters
Dr. Morgentaler Speaks

  • Year created:

    1974

  • Region:

    British Columbia

  • Language:

    English