by Nancy Tuglavina, Hopedale Learning Centre

The Women's group started in the 1980's. A new group operated with new members and the name was changed to Hopedale Status of Women Council in the 1990's.

The first shelter was a bungalow rented from a local resident. It was hard to heat and had no water and sewer facilities. The Council looked for another place. Canada Mortgage and Housing contacted the Status of Women Council and said that money was available to build a new unit with water and sewer facilities. The Torngat Regional Housing Association got the contract to build it. Representatives from both Governments, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and theHopedale Status of Women Council were present at the opening in 1994. The main reason for starting the Status of Women Council was to get a safe house built in Hopedale. They got funding from Tongamuit Inuit Annait, the Government, and the Labrador Inuit Health Commission. The new safe house was finished November 4, 1996. Seven people can stay there. It has two bunk beds and one queen sized bed.

The Hopedale Status of Women Council has seven members and they do many things for the community. They provide a safe place for abused women and their families. These women and children would have to leave the community if they did nothave this building. They run a thrift shop which has low priced clothing. It is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Labrador Inuit Health Commission asked them to take over the food bank in February, 1999. The food bank helps out needy families. Non-perishable food items such as canned food, sugar, tea, and flour are accepted.

Members will keep working at the safe house to protect the women in Hopedale. They are happy to operate the food bank to help needy families. They hope to continue helping women and their children in times of need and to offer more and better services. Other members are welcome.

• Lady Helena Squires, Liberal candidate for Lewisporte in 1930, was the first woman in the Newfoundland Legislature. She was the wife of Prime Minister Sir Richard Squires.
  
  
• Joan-Marie Aylward (Liberal), St. John's Centre Member of the House of Assembly (MHA), is Health Minister. She was the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union leader for five and a half years before entering politics.
  
  
• Julie Bettney (Liberal), Mount Pearl MHA, in Minister of Human Resources and Employment. She is responsible for the Status of Women. She was mayor for three of the 20 years she served on Mount Pearl Council.
  
  
• Sue Kelland Dyer is leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador Party. Her party ran seven candidates in the last election and got one percent of the popular votes.
  
  
• Judy Foote (Liberal), Grand Bank MHA, is Education Minister. She worked as a journalist with CBC before working with the government.
  
  
• Yvonne Jones (Liberal), Cartwright-L'anse Au Clair MHA, represented her district as an Independent member from 1996 to 1999.
  
  
• Sandra Kelly (Liberal), Gander MHA, is Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology. She is a former public health nurse. She was Gander's Deputy Mayor for eight years and Mayor from 1993 until she entered provincial politics in 1996.
  
  
• Sheila Osbourne (Progressive Conservative), St. John's West MHA, speaks out about the needs of poor families.
  
  
• Anna Thistle (Liberal), Grand Falls-Buchans MHA, is Treasury Board President. She was Grand Falls-Windsor town councillor from 1990 until 1996 when she entered provincial politics.
  
  
• 1995 was International Women's Year. It raised awareness of women's issues.