History of WGSRF

What follows is a partial history of WGSRF (under the name Canadian Women's Studies Association/l'association canadienne des études sur les femmes, CWSA/ACEF) since its inception in the early 1980s, including a listing of the members of the executive and a chronology of some of the highlights over the years. Note that over the years the organizational structure of the association has often changed, with the result that some old positions have gone, while some newer ones are now included. As this history is only partial, please do send any additional information or corrections/amendments you may have to the website manager, so we can continue to update our history.

About

Members of the Executive

2016-2017
President: Allyson Jule, Trinity Western University (2016-2018)
President Elect: N/A
Secretary: Ilya Parkins, University of British Columbia Okanagan (2015-17)
Treasurer: Heather Latimer, University of British Columbia (2016-2018)
Member at Large #1 – Coordinators’ Liaison: Annalee Lepp, University of Victoria (2016-2018)
Member at Large #2 – Conference Liaison: Marie Lovrod, University of Saskatchewan (2016-2017)
Member at Large #3 - Membership: Ann Braithwaite, University of Prince Edward Island (2016-2018)
Communications: Shannon Stettner, University of Waterloo and Tatjana Takseva, Saint Mary’s University (2015-17)
Conference: Ryerson University (May 27-31, 2017)
Conference Program Chair: Marie Lovrod, University of Saskatchewan
Conference Local Organizer: Amina Jamal, Ryerson University

2015-16
President: Marie Lovrod, University of Saskatchewan (2014-16)
President Elect: Allyson Jule, Trinity Western University (2015-16)
Secretary: Ilya Parkins, University of British Columbia Okanagan (2015-17)
Treasurer: Heather Latimer, University of British Columbia (2014-16)
Member at Large #1 – Coordinators’ Liaison: Annalee Lepp, University of Victoria (2014-16)
Member at Large #2 – Conference Liaison: Corinne Mason, Brandon University (2015-17; resigned after one year)
Member at Large #3 - Membership: Rachel Hurst, St. Francis Xavier University (2014-16)
Communications: Communications: Shannon Stettner, University of Waterloo and Tatjana Takseva, Saint Mary’s University (2015-17)
Conference: University of Calgary
Conference Program Chair/Co-Chair: Corinne Mason, Brandon; Marie Lovrod, University of Saskatchewan
Conference Local Organizer: Rebecca Sullivan, University of Calgary

2014-15
President: Marie Lovrod, University of Saskatchewan (2014-16)
Secretary: Heather Hillsburg, Lakehead (2013-15)
Treasurer: Heather Latimer, University of British Columbia (2014-16)
Member at Large #1 – Coordinators’ Liaison: Annalee Lepp, University of Victoria (2014-16)
Member at Large #2 – Conference Liaison: Susanne Luhmann, University of Alberta (2013-15)
Member at Large #3 - Membership: Rachel Hurst, St. Francis Xavier University (2014-16)
Communications: Haley Turnbull, McMaster University (2013-15)
Conference: University of Ottawa
Conference Program Chair/Co-Chair: Susanne Luhmann (University of Alberta)
Conference Local Organizer: Christabelle Sethna; Jessica Dunkin (University of Ottawa)

2013-14
President: Annalee Lepp, University of Victoria (2012-14)
President Elect: Marie Lovrod, University of Saskatchewan (2013-14)
Secretary: Heather Hillsburg, Lakehead University (2013-15)
Treasurer: Rhiannon Bury, Athabasca University (2012-14)
Member at Large #1 – Coordinators’ Liaison: Ilya Parkins, University of British Columbia Okanagan (2012-14)
Member at Large #2 – Conference Liaison: Susanne Luhmann, University of Alberta (2013-15)
Member at Large #3 - Membership: Heather Latimer, University of British Columbia (2012-14)
Conference: Brock University
Conference Program Chair/Co-Chair: Susanne Luhmann, University of Alberta (and Ann Braithwaite, University of Prince Edward Island)
Conference Local Organizer: Wendee Kubik and Shannon Moore (Brock Uuniversity)

2012-2013
President: Annalee Lepp
Treasurer: Rhiannon Bury
Secretary: Katie Aubrecht
Member at Large #1: Ilya Parkins
Member at Large #2: Marie Lovrod
Member at Large #3: Heather Latimer
Communications Officer: Ann Braithwaite
Conference: University of Victoria
Conference Program Chair:
Conference Local Organizer: Sikata Banerjee

2011-2012
President: Katherine Side
President Elect: Annalee Lepp
Treasurer: Rhiannon Bury
Secretary: Katie Aubrecht
Member at Large #1: Sal Renshaw
Member at Large #2: Marie Lovrod
Member at Large #3: Wendy Peters
Communications Officer: Ann Braithwaite
Conference: Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo
Conference Program Chair: Kate Bride
Conference Local Organizer: Margaret Toye

2010-11
President: Katherine Side
Treasurer: Rhiannon Bury
Secretary: Annalee Lepp
Member at Large #1: Sal Renshaw
Member at Large #2: Marie Lovrod
Member at Large #3: Wendy Peters
Communications Officer: Ann Braithwaite
Conference: University of New Brunswick
Conference Program Chair: Kate Bride and Sam Thrift
Conference Local Organizer: Wendy Robbins

2009-2010
President: Si Transken (resigned position, March 2010)
Incoming President: Katherine Side (acting president from March 2010 onward)
Treasurer: Darlene Juschka
Secretary: Annalee Lepp
Member at Large #1: Lynda Ross
Member at Large #2: Marie Lovrod
Communications Officer: Ann Braithwaite
Conference: Concordia University
Conference Program Chair:Ann Braithwaite and Marie Lovrod
Conference Local Organizer:Geneviève Rail

2008-09
President: Si Transken
Treasurer: Darlene Juschka
Secretary: Annalee Lepp
Member at Large #1: Lynda Ross
Member at Large #2: Habiba Zaman
Conference: Carleton University
Conference Program Chair: Andrea Levan
Conference Local Organizer: Pauline Rankin

2007-08
President: Lori Chambers
Treasurer: Darlene Juschka
Secretary: Annalee Lepp
Member at Large #1: Margaret Toye
Member at Large #2: Habiba Zaman
Conference: University of British Columbia
Conference Local Organizer: Kim Snowden
Conference Program Chair: Sikata Banerjee

2006-07
President: Lori Chambers
Treasurer: Darlene Juschka
Secretary: Wendee Kubik
Member at Large #1: Margaret Toye
Member at Large #2: Sikata Banerjee
Conference: University of Saskatchewan
Conference Local Organizer: Marie Lovrod
Conference Program Chair: Lynda Ross

2005-2006
President: Ann Braithwaite
President Elect: Lori Chambers
Treasurer: Susan Heald
Secretary: Wendee Kubik
Member at Large #1: Darlene Juschka
Member at Large #2: Sikata Banerjee
Membership Coordinator: Beth McAuley
Conference: York University
Conference Program Chair: Rhiannon Bury
Conference Local Chair: Kate McPherson

2004-2005
President: Ann Braithwaite
Past-President: Barbara Crow
Treasurer: Anne Forrest
Secretary: Lori Chambers
Membership Co-ordinator: Beth McAuley
Member At Large (One Year):
Member At Large (Two Year): Darlene Juschka
Student Representative Anne Wagner
Conference: University of Western Ontario
Conference Program Chair: Susanne Luhmann

2003-2004
President: Barbara Crow
President Elect: Ann Braithwaite
Treasurer: Anne Forrest
Secretary: Lori Chambers
Membership Co-ordinator: Beth McAuley
Member At Large (One Year): Susanne Luhmann
Member At Large (Two Year): Darlene Juschka
Conference: University of Manitoba
Conference Program Chair: Marie Lovrod

2002-2003
President: Barbara Crow
Past-President: Shree Mulay
Treasurer: Anne Forrest
Secretary: Ann Braithwaite
Members at large: Beth McAuley, Susanne Luhmann
Membership Co-ordinator: Karen MacFarlane
Conference Program Committee: Katherine Side, Lesley Biggs
Conference: Dalhousie University

2001-2002
President: Shree Mulay
Past-President: Susan Heald
President-Elect: Barbara Crow
Treasurer: Anne Forrest
Secretary: Ann Braithwaite
Members-at-large: Beth McAuley, Gillian Campbell
Membership co-ordinator: Karen MacFarlane
Conference Organizers: Kay Armatage, Marlene Goldman, Kathryn Morgan, Alisa Trotz
Conference: University of Toronto

2000-2001
President: Susan Heald
President-Elect: Shree Mulay
Conference Program Committee: Ann Braithwaite, Barbara Crow, Susanne Luhmann, Sharon Rosenberg, Diane Naugler
Conference Local Organizer: Micheline Beauregard - Universite de Laval
Conference: Université Laval
Members-at-large: Ann Braithwaite, Gillian Campbell
Treasurer: Anne Forrest

1999-2000
President: Marianne Ainley
Past President: Judith Blackwell
President-Elect: Susan Heald
Conference Organizer: Dallas Cullen
Conference: University of Alberta

1998-1999
President: Judith Blackwell
Past President: Chantal Maille
Treasurer: Barbara Austin
Conference Organizers: Judith Blackwell, Gerry Coulter, Barbara Austin, Paulette Cote-Laurence
Conference: Sherbrooke/Bishop's

1997-1998
President: Chantal Maille
President-Elect: Judith Blackwell
Treasurer: Virginia Rock
Conference: Ottawa University

1996-1997
President: Anne Marie Powers
Past President: Thelma McCormack
President-Elect: Chantal Maille

1995-1996
President: Thelma McCormack
Past President: Pauline Greenhill
President-Elect: Anne Marie Powers
Conference Organizer: June Corman
Conference: Brock
Student Caucus Rep: Catherine Taylor
Lesbian Caucus Rep: Brenda Johnston
Women of Colour Caucus Rep: Philomena Okeke
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Dana Hearne
Treasurer: Virginia Rock
SSFC Rep: Denyse Cote

1994-1995
President: Pauline Greenhill
Past President: Nancy Adamson
President-Elect: Thelma McCormack
Conference Organizers: Dana Hearne, Mary Louise Lefevre
Conference: UQUAM
Student Caucus Rep: Catherine Taylor
Lesbian Caucus Rep: Brenda Johnston
Women of Colour Caucus Rep: Joanne Lee
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Dana Hearne
Treasurer: Caroline Andrew

1993-1994
President: Nancy Adamson
Past President: Ellen Balka
President-Elect: Pauline Greenhill
Conference Organizers: Elly Silverman, Barbara Crow
Conference: Calgary
Student Caucus Rep: Catherine Taylor
Lesbian Caucus Rep: Jane Walsh
Women of Colour Caucus Rep: Joanne Lee
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Linda Trimble
Treasurer: Linda Cardinal

1992-1993
President: Ellen Balka
Past President: Greta Hoffman Nemirofff
Conference Organizer (& President Elect): Nancy Adamson
Conference: Carleton
Student Caucus Rep: Jane Walsh
Lesbian Caucus Rep: Catherine Taylor
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Linda Trimble
Treasurer: Linda Cardinal

1991-1992
President: Greta Hoffman Nemiroff
Past President: Sandi Kirby
Conference Organizer (& President Elect): Ellen Balka
Conference: UPEI
Student Caucus Rep: Brenda Ponic
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Linda Trimble
Treasurer: Linda Cardinal

1990-1991
President: Sandi Kirby
Past President: Christine St. Peter
Conference Organizer (& President Elect): Greta Hoffman Nemiroff
Conference: Queen’s University
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Winnie Tomm
Treasurer: Barbara Roberts

1989-1990
President: Christine St. Peter
Past President: Jeri Dawn Wine
Conference Organizer: Sandi Kirby
Conference: Victoria
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Winnie Tomm
Treasurer: Barbara Roberts

1988-1989
President: Jeri Dawn Wine
Past President: Sylvia Bowerbank
Conference Organizers: Christine St. Peter, Roberta Mura, Chantal Thery
Conference: Laval
Lesbian Caucus Rep: Janice Ristock
Secretary/Newsletter Editor: Winnie Thom
Treasurer: Deborah Poff

1987-88
President: Sylvia Bowerbank
Conference Organizers: Jeri Wine, Maureen Muldoon
Conference: Windsor
Lesbian Caucus Rep: Sharon Stone (beginning Sept. 1987)
Secretary-Treasurer: Deborah Poff
Newsletter Editor: Deborah Poff

1986-87 (In 1986/87, CWSA/ACEF became a Learned Society/member of CFHSS)
President: Vanajan Dhruvarajan
Conference Organizers: Nora Ceboterov, Sylvia Bowerbank
Conference: McMaster University
Secretary-Treasurer: Deborah Poff
Newsletter Editor: Deborah Poff

1985-86
President: Deborah Poff
Vice-President: Vanajan Dhruvarajan
Conference Organizer: Vanajan Dhruvarajan
Conference: Winnipeg
Secretary-Treasurer: Jill Vickers:br /> Newsletter Editor: Jill Vickers

1984-85
President: Irene Poelzer
Conference Organizer: Suzsanne Peters
Conference: Université de Montréal
Secretary-Treasurer: Jill Vickers
Newsletter Editor: Jill Vickers

1983-84
President: Linda Kealey
Conference Organizers: Johanne Boehnert, Marguerite Anderson, Nora Ceboterov, Catherine Watson
Conference: University of Guelph
Secretary-Treasurer: Jill Vickers
Newsletter Editor: Jill Vickers

1982-83
President: Frances Early
Conference Organizers: Nikki Strong-Boag & Susan Jackel
Conference: UBC (with the Association for Canadian Studies)
Executive: June Bantjes, Susan Jackel, Nikki Strong-Boag, Sylvia van Kirk

Chronology of Events

1998

University of Ottawa conference: “Women’s Studies: At the Cutting Edge?” Cyber Committee created to keep CWSA apprised of issues of concern to women and the new communications technology
CWSA/ACEF launches a website

1997

Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland conference

1996

Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario conference

1995

UQAM, Montréal, Québec, conference. "Justice and Equality in Women's Studies and Feminist Practices."

1994

University of Calgary, Alberta, conference
CWSA members organize an International Women’s Studies conference hosted by Ottawa University
CWSA decides to assume the administration of Atlantis, an Atlantic Canadian based women’s studies journal (was temporarily suspended, so CWSA stepped in)
AGM becomes focused on the place and power of different caucuses (ie. student and lesbian), visibility, funding, etc.

1993

Carleton University conference. "Women's Studies: Academic Discipline, Political Engagements and Future Directions;" one day devoted to requirements and contents of proposed MA and PhD Women’s Studies programs in Canada
Sub-committee created at AGM to look at chilly climate at Canadian universities

1992

University of PEI conference; joint sessions sponsored by the Society for Socialist Studies and the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association
Student Caucus established; Brenda Ponic (Memorial University) is the first rep.: “Why have a student caucus? Because several students who attended the Learneds believed that bridging the barriers between students and professors in a systematic way should be a philosophical foundation of Canadian Women’s Studies meetings, programs, and publications. Students are a disempowered group within academia. Having a student caucus is one mechanism whereby students can work to ensure that CWSA meetings, such as the Learneds, are accessible and supportive of women entering academia, and that the CWSA is there for students to share their research and ideas."
Financial problems - 3 year grant not renewed by SSHRC; proposed a membership fee increase
Creation of Publications Committee; ‘92 to look at the formation of publications policies (for conference or to journal?). Weaving Alliances/Tisser les liens.

1991

Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, conference. "Weaving Alliances: Feminist Education and Practice."
First ever Programme Committee for conference
Women of Colour Caucus newsletter included in fall newsletter: “It was agreed ... that the caucus should provide contexts for women of colour to get to know each other as persons, colleagues and as researchers.” - Vanaja Dhruvaragan, University of Winnipeg. “Organizing as women of colour in academia is a potentially powerful means of sisterhood and solidarity. The potential will be fulfilled with great recognition of ‘third wave’ feminist praxis and with solid structural support fot he caucus” - Farah Shroff (Nov. ‘92)
Mention of using e-mail for communication in spring newsletter; also a request to create a computer symposium
Affiliated with Resources for Feminist Research / Documentation sur la recherche feministe
Membership increased 74% since 1988
Lesbian Caucus is the first to suggest that child care is covered at the conference

1990

University of Victoria, British Columbia, conference. "Women Changing Academe."
Sandra Kirby drafts a Code of Ethics for CWSA and publishes it in Winds of Change in Academe

1989

Conference at Université Laval, Québec.

1988

University of Windsor conference; appears to have been the first time that bilingual sessions are available (English and French). "Concepts of Self in Literature and What They Mean for Feminist Theory" (joint session)
Deborah Poff suggests that the CWSA be affiliated with a learned journal; most agree to be part of the Resources for Feminist Research / Documentation sur la recherche feministe; finalized at a later date
CRIAW conference highlights lesbian issues as a sub-theme for the first time
Lesbian Caucus established at June AGM; Janice Ristock is the first rep.

1987

McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, conference. "Feminist Pedagogy in Feminist Studies Courses and in Disciplinary Courses."
Member status in the Canadian Humanities Federation
Lesbian Caucus newsletter included in fall ‘87 newsletter: “We agreed that our goals are to increase lesbian visibility and to encourage research on lesbians and the inclusion of lesbian material in courses. In other words, teaching, research and networking. We want to make the presence of lesbians visible in the CWSA and push for lesbian content on the CWSA program, We need to encourage work on lesbians because having a place to present work makes a difference. We also need to ask for the integration of lesbian content into regular sessions.” - Sharon Stone, York University
Lesbian Caucus goals: lobby women’s studies professors to get lesbian content in courses; ask for a position on the executive of CWSA (achieved in ‘88); raise $ to support graduate research on lesbians, newsletter to be distributed two time a year

1986

University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, conference - first conference with CWSA as an official Learned society.
CWSA granted member status in the Social Science Federation of Canada

1985

Université de Montréal, Québec, conference. "Spirituality, Empowerment and Autonomy."
French and English newsletter incorporated into one (first fully bilingual newsletter).

1984

University of Guelph, Ontario, conference. "Language, Culture and Gender." CWSA adopts constitution and plan of organization.
CWSA newsletter logo--the symbol for woman with a book inside the loop--is adopted.

1983

CWSA applied for funding ($2540) to the Women’s Program, Secretary of State (letter March 7, 1983 from Frances Early to Joanne Linzey)
Spring newsletter
Draft constitution in letter from Sylvia Van Kirk to Francis Early, on May 10.
First CWSA Conference held at UBC jointly with the Canadian Studies Association and the Canadian Association of Adult Learners
Secretariat move to Carleton University, Ottawa, with Jill Vickers; funds transferred in June 1983.

1982

CWSA/ACEF is founded at the Learned Societies' Conference in Ottawa\
The first entry on its first “Running Acct” sheet is dated July 30, 1982, and is identified as “Deposit for beginning expenses- provided by S. Van Kirk from women’s studies funds available to her” -- $100.00.
First newsletter produced, autumn 1982. Francis Early, in the “Anglophone Co-ordinator’s Report” on the first page, indicates that the membership has more than doubled since June, and now stands at 121 individual memberships and 9 institutions. Although 15% of the membership is francophone, they are having difficulty recruiting a francophone co-ordinator.
Early’s report ends enthusiastically: “In closing, I wish to leave in your minds the sense I have than an incredible energy and creativity and purpose exists in all of us. I am looking forward to hearing more from you all. We have made a promising start--onward!” / “Pour conclure, je tiens à vous signaler à quel point je ressens que nous sommes animées par une énergie, une créativité et une raison d’être tou à fait remarquables. J’ai bien h^ate de recevoir de vos nouvelles. Nous avons eu un début prometteur ...continuons! Mes meilleurs voeux, Frances Early’
Frances Early put out a call for Women’s Studies outlines and the status of Women’s Studies programs nation-wide.

Please notify the website manager of any errors or omissions in the above historical listing of members of the WGSRF executive or in the association's chronology of events, or if you have any information to be added.

​History of WGSRF

About

Members of the Executive

Chronology of Events

About

History of WGSRF