The Government of Canada Commemorates Helena Gutteridge (1879-1960) as a National Historic Person
News Release
April 21, 2017 Vancouver, British Columbia Parks Canada Agency
Today, Joyce Murray, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, commemorated Helena Gutteridge (1879-1960) as a national historic person and unveiled a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque at Vancouver City Hall.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant events that contributed to our country’s rich history and heritage. After immigrating from England in 1911, Helena Gutteridge joined the Vancouver Trades and Labour Council Executive (VTLC), an umbrella organisation for Vancouver’s labour movement, and helped to organize female workers. At a time when women represented only a small part of the work force and earned 40 to 50 percent less than men, she worked tirelessly to advocate for women’s issues in the labour movement, and convinced the VTLC to support equal pay for equal work for women.
Known as a working-class suffragist, labour activist and feminist reformer, Helena Gutteridge forged alliances among diverse groups in order to achieve important social and political changes of benefit to women and workers. In 1937, she was the first woman elected on the Vancouver City Council, and assisted in laying the foundations for a social housing movement in British Columbia.
Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas enable Canadians to experience their rich history and heritage in a special way and play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150. As part of the centennial of national historic sites, Parks Canada invites Canadians to be inspired and captivated by the stories of the people and events that shaped the Canada of today.
Quotes
“I am proud to honour Helena Gutteridge as a national historic person. She was a visionary reformer who represented female workers in a male-dominated trade union milieu, helped organize unions for women, and built bridges between feminist and labour organizations. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of our great nation, it is important for all of us to learn more about the people, places and events that have shaped our rich cultural and natural history.”
Joyce Murray
Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra
“I’m honoured to celebrate the life and legacy of Helena Gutteridge, the first woman elected to Vancouver City Council. Helena’s work as a tireless advocate for women’s issues laid important groundwork for issues still very relevant to Vancouver today: gender equality, equal pay, homelessness and the need for safe, affordable housing for all. Today’s celebration in Helena’s memory is an important reminder to keep working toward social and political change for more equality, diversity and inclusion.”
His Worship Gregor Robertson
Mayor, City of Vancouver
Quick Facts
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Born into a working class family in London, England, Helena Rose Gutteridge trained as a cutter in the tailor’s trade, and also studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the Royal Sanitary Institute that gained her a teaching certificate.
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Helena Gutteridge associated with Great Britain’s militant suffragists, Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, from whom she learned techniques of activism and public speaking.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people and events that have marked Canada’s history.
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Contacts
Laura Judson
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Coastal British Columbia Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency
250-654-4086
laura.judson@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca
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