Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
130th ANNIVERSARY, COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF WINNIPEG
Government House
Thursday, May 23, 2024
(please check against delivery)
Members of the Council of Women of Winnipeg, it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome you to Government House, here in the heart of Treaty One land and the homeland of the Red River Metis.
For over 140 years, this historic residence has been a provincial landmark, as well as residence of Lieutenant Governors, in a province that is the ancestral and present-day home of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Inuit and Metis peoples.
I’ve had the good fortune to welcome to this building many Manitobans who contribute to the health, equity and quality of life of our province. But not many are members of organizations that have been working to improve life in our province since 1894.
Reading the history of the Council of Women of Winnipeg is like a following the history of social progress in Manitoba.
One would be hard pressed to find an important step in making this city and province more supportive, more equitable, and more just that was not championed by the women of this group.
From the early efforts to win the vote for women, to later campaigns for family allowance and minimum wage laws, to advocacy for pay equity and gender equity in leadership, the Council of Women of Winnipeg has always been on the right side of history.
Today, you continue to provide opportunities to bring research, networking and advocacy to bear on important issues – from housing, to transportation, to the toxic drug crisis.
And in doing so, you provide opportunities for women to develop their leadership talents in order to ensure that the voice of women can be heard in future public debates.
It takes generations of listening and learning, hard work and creative thinking to keep an organization alive and vital for 130 years.
Fortunately, Winnipeg has never lacked for talented women with the courage to speak up and the commitment to make a better community.
To all who have been part of that history and to the members who carry it on today, I’m delighted to help you celebrate this anniversary year here at Government House.
Thank you for your commitment to our city and province and congratulations on 130 years of making our community better.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom