About Ellen

Ellen with Dalannah Bowen speaking out about homelessness to the UN Special Envoy on Homelessness

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!

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