Ellen with Dalannah Bowen speaking out about homelessness to the UN Special Envoy on Homelessness
Ellen Woodsworth is a speaker, writer, activist and community organizer. She served as a Vancouver City Councillor from 2002 to 2005 and 2008 to 2011, working for social justice, economic equality and environmentally sound planning. In the interim she organized Housing, Climate Change, and Harm Reduction forums.
Ellen loves talking with people, reading, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, skiing and generally living up to the Woodsworth traditions. See the photos.<
Working together with other like-minded individuals and organizations, she knows that people have the ideas and the energy to make Vancouver a City for Everyone!
Ellen can be reached through her Facebook page or on Twitter.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2006 to present: Maya Consultants – President – Speaker, community developer, researcher and organizer – forums on Climate Change, housing, women and seniors
2008 to 2011: Vancouver City Councillor
Local and Regional Council Appointments included:
- Vancouver Director, Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee
- Director, Hastings Institute
- Council representation to the Women’s Advisory Committee
- Council representation to the LGTBQ Advisory Committee
- Member, Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
- Member, Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
- Member, Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
2002 to 2005: Vancouver City Councillor
Local and Regional Council Appointments included:
- Vancouver Director, Union of British Columbia Municipalities and member of the Health Committee
- Vancouver Director, Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee
- Alternate, Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Director, Hastings Institute Inc. Board
- Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
- Member, Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
- Member, Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
- Council representative to the City Seniors Advisory Committee
- Council representative to the City Family court and youth justice committee
- Member, Food Policy Task Force
- Member of the Creative Cities Task Force
- Vice Chair, Peace and Justice Committee
- Co-Chair, Women’s Task Force, Gender Equality Strategy for City of Vancouver
1999 to 2002: Coordinator of the Seniors Summit
a provincial coalition of senior’s organizations, seniors and people who worked with seniors.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
| Women Transforming Cities International | Founder and National Chairperson | 2011 – present |
| Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom | Canadian President | 2007 – 2009 |
| Coalition of Progressive Electors | External Chairperson | 2007 – 2008 |
| UBC Global Students Speaker’s Bureau | Mentor | 2006 |
| War Toys to Peace Art (Promoting a Culture of Peace for Children Society) | Board | 2006 – present |
| Federation of Canadian Municipalities & Women & Cities International | Represented both organizations at the World Urban Forum in Barcelona, Spain. Launched the documents “City Tailored to Women” and the “Women’s Safety Awards” | 2004 |
| World Peace Forum | Cofounder, Secretary and Cities Coordinator | 2003 – 2006 |
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Generations Project | Founding Board | 2001 |
| Vancouver Status of Women | Chairperson of the Board | 1999- 2000 |
| Reach Community Health Centre | Board Member | 1999 |
| Bridge Housing Society for Women | President of Board | 1998-2002 |
| Grace MacInnis Biography | Working Committee | 1996 |
| Kinesis Newspaper | Board | 1996-1999 |
| Waupoos Cottage Cooperative | President | 1994 and 2007 |
| National Advisory Group on Women’s Unpaid Work | Member | 1992- 1996 |
| Women to Women Global Strategies | Member | 1992- 1995 |
| India Mahilla Association | Researcher | 1990 |
| Britannia Community Centre | President | 1984- 1985 |
| Strathcona Community Gardens | Member | 1982 – ongoing |
| Women’s Legal Education Action Fund | Program Committee Member | 2006- ongoing |
| Peace Sustainability | National Steering Committee | 2008 |
Publications and Reports:
- 1981 Housing Needs of Single Parents, internal report for YWCA, Author
- 1984 Kingsway Community Resources and Listings and Analysis: Co-author
- 1985 Single Parenting in East Vancouver: Co-author
- 1986 It’s Time Women Speak Out: Editor & co-author
- 1987 It’s Time Housework Was Recognized and Paid: Editor & co-author
- 1988 Three Deals One Game: BC Women Look at Free Trade, Meech Lake and Privatization: Editor, writer and supervisor of research
- 1990 Child Care Needs in the District of North Vancouver: Author
- 1999 Seniors Summit Follow Up Proceedings – Editor
- 1990 to 2001 writer for Kinesis Newspaper
- 2005 SPARCBC “Making Space for Women in Cities”
- 2005 “Gender Equality Strategy” for the City of Vancouver Co Chair
AWARDS
- 1992 Awarded the Canada 125 Medal of Distinction for Community Service
- 2001 Chosen Queer Hero of the Month by XTRA West
- 2002 Nominated for Woman of Distinction Award
- 2008 Nominated for the YMCA International Peace Award
- 2013 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award
EDUCATION
1 year Kwantlen College Foundation Art
1 year Emily Carr
BA in Sociology UBC
High School Graduate Canadian Academy Kobe, Japan
Humberside Collegiate Institute Toronto, Ontario