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

2008 to 2011: Vancouver City Councillor

2006 to 2008: Maya Consultants –  President – Speaker, community developer, researcher and organizer – forums on Climate Change, housing, women and Civil City

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’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 & 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	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

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