History

Various forms of Women’s Centres have existed at the University of Calgary since the 1970s.  In the 1990s, a women’s centre existed, however it was housed in a tiny space and relied on the force of volunteers to sustain its efforts.  The centre closed due to space constraints and a lack of funding, as do many campus women’s centres that do not have the support of the university administration.

In 2003, a group of women students from Dr. Fiona Nelson’s Women’s Studies Feminist Praxis course took on the huge task of researching and developing a plan to reinstitute a women’s centre at the University of Calgary.  Their efforts transformed beyond the classroom into the Campus Women’s Resource Centre campaign which lasted until 2006 when a group of women faculty and staff came together to support their efforts.  These women included Dr. Nelson, Catherine Fisher of the Centre for International Students and Study Abroad, Dr. Claudia Emes, acting Advisor to the President on Women’s Issues, and Sheila O’Brien, Advisor to the President on Student Life among many other women. 

Sheila O’Brien became the administrative force behind the founding of the newest evolution of women’s centres at the University of Calgary when she literally donated her entire year’s salary to the construction of the new centre.  This push for a new centre was supported by her husband, Kevin Peterson.

The Women’s Resource Centre is part of the Take Your Place project which saw the enhancement of 40 student spaces on campus.  Our centre has been designed by two women environmental design students, Georgia Houston and Livia Antalikova.  We are housed on the third floor of MacEwan Hall next to the Ballroom and the Gauntlet.