Marking 50 years of advocating for gender equality on P.E.I. — and the work still ahead

For 50 years, the P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women has been a voice for gender equality on Prince Edward Island — and on Thursday, past and present council members came together to mark the milestone, reflecting on the progress made and the work still ahead.

Dianne Porter, who chaired the council from 1986 to 1989, said there has been “tremendous” progress over the past five decades, such as changes in laws around rape and sexual assault, the legal status for women, and the rights of Indigenous women.

“The accomplishments... are based on the energy that women put into it,” she said.

The council operates at arm's length from government to promote gender equality for all Islanders. It was first established in 1975, and its status was formalized through the P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act in 1988. The council is made up of nine Island women.

Porter said there are many women who have been involved with the group who have made things better for everyone.

“There [are] a lot of unsung heroes in this province," she said. "They’re all over, and tremendous credit should be given to those women who've worked so hard.”

Garima Mishra, an advisory council member and vice-chair, said it has been “an honour and quite a journey” to learn about the power that women and the council have.

“We have to admit at this point of time, a woman's perspective, it brings balance in the overall living of everybody, right?” she said.

“So we need to have that woman voice across all genres of industries and living.”

Mishra said the council has a number of partnerships in place as part of its work to improve diversity, and that diversity is also reflected in the current council members.

“That itself shows that we work towards respecting the diversity, that we are having more and more… on the Island,” she said.

Mishra said the group's members come from different backgrounds in terms of ethnicity, financial status and education, which helps bring a wide range of perspectives to the council's work.

"They all bring varied challenges that women face, you know, maybe in their workplace, at their homes, in the communities," she said.

"It is very important to have that advocacy and have that voice in place from all... women, I would say, to create awareness."