Through the Years (from The Golden Glimpses: A History of the first 50 years of PCWM)

The Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba, Inc., (PCWM), resulted from the foresight of three local councils, Portage la Prairie, Dauphin and Winnipeg in 1949. The purpose was “to unite all provincial women’s organizations and Local Councils of Women (federates) enabling them to be a definite force to work through the government for better standards of living in the community.” The key was working in harmony with other Councils and Provincial organizations (Federates) toward the objectives of education and advocacy. Provincial councils are responsible for issues under provincial jurisdiction. We prepare an annual Brief to the Provincial Government, and Opposition Parties, based on our Resolutions.

Some of the issues that we have worked on over the years: 

• 1949 Fair division of marital property
• 1951 Women to serve on juries
• 1956 Establishing the Elizabeth Fry Society
• 1958 Safe storage of hazardous materials
• 1961 Licencing of driving schools
• 1962 Teacher training at the University of Manitoba
• 1963 Parks to preserve native flora and fauna
•  1968 Implementation of maintenance orders
• 1970 Raising age of eligibility of children for family maintenance
• 1972 Employment training programs and dollars for women, including non-traditional trades
• 1973 Non-taxation of estates
• 1977 Facilities to support elderly persons
• 1980 Control of heavy metals in the environment
• 1983 Native language promotion of breast feeding
• 1983 Removal of abortion from the criminal code
• 1986 Midwifery education and licencing
• 1990 Access to resources to reduce elder abuse
• 1992 Water and Free Trade
• 1993 Integrated decision-making in land use planning, environmental management and protection
• 1996 Canadian History as a compulsory subject in senior 3 (grade 11)