In alignment with International Women’s Day (8 March 2025), the University of Ottawa Library and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) are pleased to announce the addition of the Canadian Women’s Movement Archives Collection to the Canada Memory of the World Register. The Canada Memory of the World Register recognizes documentary heritage of national significance and is administered by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in accordance with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme which aims to safeguard and promote access to documentary heritage of universal value.
The collection was initiated by Pat Leslie, editor of the Toronto feminist newspaper The Other Woman, who sought to preserve the records of the newspaper after it ceased publication in 1977. Leslie identified the need for feminist groups to preserve their own history and documentation, with the vision to address the lack of representation of women’s stories in traditional Canadian archives and historical narratives. A collective was established to support Leslie’s vision and operating under the auspices of the Women’s Information Centre of Toronto, they expanded the collection to include documentary materials from hundreds of women’s organizations and individuals active in the feminist movement in Canada from the 1960s to 1990s. By 1992, when donated to the University of Ottawa Library, it had become the most representative archival collection of the Canadian second-wave feminist movement, highlighting its vitality, diverse demands, and the broad range of organizations and communities that shaped it.
This grassroots effort to preserve the history of the feminist movement has resulted in a collection of such breath and diversity that today it is the most frequently accessed archives of the University of Ottawa’s Archives and Special Collection. Part of the collection has been digitized and made available online while additional materials including documents, photographs, posters, buttons, textiles and audiovisual recordings can be accessed by the public at the University of Ottawa’s Morisset Library.
“The collection constitutes a unique resource for learning about the work of feminist advocacy groups, collectives, women’s centres, women’s studies programs and feminist publishing houses during a key period of the women’s rights movement in Canada. The archival materials document discourse and actions on issues such as equality in education and employment, peace and disarmament, reproductive freedom, equal pay, and the right to safety. At a time when these struggles are having to be refought, this archive and the stories of collective resistance it holds can serve both as a point of reference and source of inspiration.”
- Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko, Secretary General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO
“Adding the Canadian Women’s Movement Archives Collection to the Canada Memory of the World Register is a proud achievement for the University of Ottawa. This collection not only preserves the rich history of feminist advocacy in Canada but also serves as an invaluable resource for current and future generations. It embodies our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and the recognition of women's contributions to society. We are proud to house such a significant archive and to support the ongoing efforts to document and celebrate the stories of women who have shaped our nation.”
- Jacques Beauvais, Provost, University of Ottawa
“When the second wave of the women’s movement emerged in the 1960s, we had no sense of the long history of active organizing by women to change society that had preceded – the stories of their organizing, their strategies, their understanding of feminism had not yet been published. The Collective wanted to ensure that the women’s movement we were a part of did not suffer that fate. By finding, cataloguing, making available and studying the records of the Canadian women’s movement from the 1960s forward, the CWMA/ACMF would ensure that our story would be told.”
- Nancy Adamson, founding member of the CWMA Collective
“The CWMA collection is a primary source treasure trove for new and seasoned researchers seeking information about the history of the women’s movement in Canada. I turn to the collection regularly for my own research on histories of reproductive justice, and make sure to introduce graduate students to the collection each year. Diving into the past via newspapers, journals, memoranda, letters, images, and artifacts can be a thrilling and unsettling experience. How much has changed for women? How much has not? This valuable and distinctive collection helps us all to remember, recover, and relearn.”
- Dr. Christabelle Sethna, Full Professor, Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies, University of Ottawa
About the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) serves as a bridge between Canadians and the vital work of UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Through its networks and partners, the Commission promotes UNESCO’s values, priorities and programs in Canada and brings the voices of Canadian experts to the international stage. Its activities are guided by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other UNESCO priorities. CCUNESCO operates under the authority of the Canada Council for the Arts.
About the University of Ottawa Library
The University of Ottawa is powered by research. Located in Canada’s capital, we bring together energetic and creative scholars to tackle urgent global challenges and to respond to emerging opportunities.
As one of Canada’s most innovative universities, we generate breakthroughs and discoveries that make a real difference in communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. Our thought leaders provide evidence-based insights that inform policy and support industry.
Our influence keeps growing due to our vast range of international partnerships, including our membership in the U7+ Alliance. As the world’s largest French-English university, we are a driving force in the Francophonie.
For more information, please contact:
Kate Declerck
Public Affairs Advisor
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
343-543-9205
kate.declerck@ccunesco.ca
University of Ottawa
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