The Dalhousie Women’s Centre opened on International Women’s Day, March 8, 1993. A dedicated group of wonderful women worked extremely hard to get the DWC off the ground, and all of our success today is due to their hard efforts, brilliant ideas and vision.
The Centre started out on South Street, in a house located next to the former Dal Security building. When the house was condemned we moved to a house on Lemarchant Street behind the Dalhousie Student Union Building. In the spring of 2003 we moved back to South Street, near the Dalplex, to make way for the new student residence: Risley Hall.
The Early Days
The women involved with starting the Centre worked tirelessly, and against great odds, to get the Centre started. They were greeted with some opposition from the University but were diligent and patient—overcoming obstacles with research and facts, working with allies and partners to alleviate ‘political concerns’.
These women also had the foresight to have our funding tied to a direct student levy. A referendum question was run on the 1993 DSU election general ballot, asking students if they would be willing to have the DSU collect a direct levy to fund the Women’s Centre. The answer was a strong YES.
What is a Women’s Centre?
The “women’s centre” is a well-established organizational form aimed at addressing women’s shared needs and encouraging equitable gender relations. Long-running centres have been established around the world include McGill University, University of Toronto, and UBC.
Women’s centres exist in recognition of women’s common and diverse needs.
Why was the Women’s Centre created?
The Dalhousie Women’s Centre was created in response to the Montreal Massacre at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989. On this day, an armed man entered the Engineering School and killed 14 women, injuring scores more. In one lecture classroom, he separated the men from the women, had the men leave, and lined the women against a wall. After shouting, “You’re all feminists” he shot and killed them all.
December 6th now marks a national day or mourning and remembrance for all women who have been victims of gender-based violence.
In the wake of the massacre, University students across the country lead the call for change. The creation and emergence of Women’s Centres was part of that call—we are a living legacy for hope.
Women’s Centre are viewed as an integral part of building safe, equitable communities based on mutual respect and human rights.
The Women’s Centre was created to:
- offer resources around women’s and social justice issues. We have a great lending library of videos, books, and journals.
- offer referrals to people in need of the services of community groups and rganizations in Halifax-Dartmouth.
- sponsor and co-sponsor events that celebrate the diversity of women and their concerns and/or work for a society that is just and safe for people of all genders.
- outreach and network with other woman-positive and anti-oppression community groups and organizations.
- provide a safe space on campus where women’s and anti-oppression issues can be discussed both formally and informally.
- work towards the creation of communities that are vibrant, life-giving, and safe for people of all genders.
- offer volunteer oppertunities giuded bby the passions and skills of the volunteers themselves.
How is the Dalhousie Women’s Centre funded?
The DWC is funded by a direct student levy. Student Union fees are paid upon registration for all full-time and part-time students at Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College. The Dalhousie Student Union and King’s Student Union collect a small levy on the DWC’s behalf, and this provides us with our budget for each fiscal year.
