Congress of Canadian Women

Canadian feminist organization

The Congress of Canadian Women (French: Congrès des femmes canadiennes) was a feminist organization created in March 1950 by the merger of several organizations, including the Housewives and Consumers Association. It was affiliated with the Women's International Democratic Federation.[1] The Congress lobbied for women's equality including measures such as equal pay and public daycare.[2] Rae Luckock was the organization's founding president.[1] Former Labor-Progressive Party Member of Parliament Dorise Nielsen was also involved in founding the organization.[3] The CCW was largely led by women associated with the communist Labor-Progressive Party[4] and was also involved with the peace movement during the Cold War,[5] facilitating meetings between people from the Soviet Union and Canadians, by inviting them to visit Canada.[6]

There is a file of papers related to the Congress of Canadian Women in the Canadian Women's Movement Archive at the University of Ottawa Library.[7] The Diefenbunker Museum in Ontario holds a peace campaign pin produced in the 1950s by the Congress of Canadian Women.[8]

## Notable members

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* Rae Luckock[1][9]
* Dorise Nielsen[3]
* Nora Rodd[10][11]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Conference for Canadian Women". Star-Phoenix. 1949-11-05. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-11-08 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Famous Canadian Women's Historic Timeline - 1950-1959". famouscanadianwomen.com.
3. ^ a b Johnston, Faith (11 February 2018). A Great Restlessness: The Life and Politics of Dorise Nielsen. Univ. of Manitoba Press. ISBN 9780887553066 - via Google Books.
4. ^ Doyle, James (1 January 2006). Progressive Heritage: The Evolution of a Politically Radical Literary Tradition in Canada. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. ISBN 9780889208292 - via Google Books.
5. ^ "Women to March on Ottawa". The Montreal Star. 1963-10-05. p. 58. Retrieved 2023-11-08 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ Canadian Press (1956-01-23). "May visitors from Russia". The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. p. 6. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
7. ^ "Congress of Canadian Women / Congrès des femmes canadiennes". University of Ottawa Archives and Special Collections. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
8. ^ Hobson, Emily (2023-03-10). "25 Artifacts: I am a Woman for Peace". Diefenbunker Museum. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
9. ^ "Local Women's Chapter Protests to the U.S." Nanaimo Daily News. 1952-08-06. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-11-08 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Marriage rules defined?". The Ottawa Citizen. 1966-11-25. p. 35. Retrieved 2023-11-08 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Asks Visas be Granted to Soviet Women". The Windsor Star. 1956-05-09. p. 53. Retrieved 2023-11-08 - via Newspapers.com.