PHYLLIS MORTIMORE    BPW VANCOUVER

VANCOUVER – The first woman to ever achieve the rank of Sergeant with Vancouver Police Phylilis Mortimore passed away on Monday, November 8, 2009, at the age of 92.

Vancouver Police spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness said Sgt. Phyllis Mortimore was a pioneer for policewomen and her groundbreaking career began in Aug. 1943.She worked as  city cop for 31 years.” She continued to make her mark following her retirement in June 1974, as she became the longest living retired member of the Department,” said McGuinness. “Sergeant Mortimore was the first female sergeant in the Vancouver Police
Department. When Phyllis Mortimore joined the Vancouver Police Department, women couldn't carry guns, had to wear skirts and were paid less than male police officers. The first female officer with the VPD to rise to the rank of sergeant, she was largely responsible for female officers getting pay equity with the men.  Until 1957, women received about two-thirds the wage men were paid. But after Mortimore complained to then-police-chief George Archer during a chance encounter in the elevator at the old Cordova Street station, that inequity was finally rectified.

In a 1984 interview with The Vancouver Sun, the straight-talking Mortimore recounted that conversation.  "I tackled him and said, 'How about getting equal pay for the women?' and he said, "What do the women do that's the same as the men?' I said, 'Everything.' "  Archer had Mortimore submit a report outlining the duties policewomen performed at the time to justify the pay increase. Archer discussed it with the police commissioner, and in time, wage parity became a reality.

EMILY DAVIES    BPW VANCOUVER

  Emily Davies was born in Wales. She passed away peacefully on December 23, 2009 at the age of 92. Emily was a Veteran of WWII serving with the Queen Alexandra Imperial military nursing service in Burma and India. She immigrated to Canada in 1952 working as a public health nurse until her retirement. She was a member of the Burma Star, St. John Ambulance, Vancouver Business and Professional Women's club, the Vancouver Council of Women. She was an accomplished Toast Mistress and Parliamentarian, and a long time member of the Vancouver Welsh Society and the Cambrian singers.         

We will always remember Emily as the "snail" mail lady who was so determined to continue to have correspondence sent that way – (remember her pounding on the table to make her point),  but then became so conversant on a computer at her age  (well over 80) to become such a convert - was an inspiration to every older member of BPW to "adapt" and so where we are today!

BPW BC & Yukon Members

DOROTHY MILDRED SCHOFIELD    BPW KAMLOOPS

1949 Charter President of the Kamloops Business and Professional Women’s Club

It was with sadness we heard about Dorothy passing away peacefully on February 12, 2010, at the age of eighty-three years.  Dorothy was an accomplished business woman, managing motels, resorts and stores.

As Charter President and founding member of the Kamloops Business and Professional Women's Club in 1949, she lobbied the government to remove restrictions on hiring women.  In addition to these achievements, she led a life of humble service. She was foster mother in the early 60's and active in the Kamloops United Church, teaching Sunday School and the Explorers' Girls Group.

Dorothy was a canvasser for the Red Cross and Heart & Stroke Foundation. Her dedication to the Eastern Star was a passion that brought her joy throughout her adult life.  Dorothy was honoured as a driving force behind the expansion and updating of Heritage House in Riverside Park. She helped run the Seniors
Games for years, taking particular interest in lawn bowling where she took time out to win a few medals. Dorothy had a great love for the outdoors which she passed on to her family As an accomplished seamstress, she volunteered assistance to hemming garments to sewing dresses for wedding parties to sewing bandanas for the Cancer Clinic.  Dorothy's gift as an organizer, outgoing nature, keen wit, sense of honour and love and care for others will be sadly missed.

I had the pleasure of personally meeting Dorothy at our club's 25th Anniversary in 1974.

Gertrude Demecha,
BPW Past National President
1986 - 1988

IRENE HALL    BPW DUNCAN

Irene Hall is a Life Member of the  Duncan Business and Professional Women’s Club and has been involved with it since 1945.  Her great love has always been the BPW and she says she was “born before her time”.  Irene believes in quality for women and in her day women were expected to stay home to look after the family.  Working was not an option.  In her words “there should be a place where women can speak candidly and women need to be challenged!”  

Irene was also very involved with Unicef and was their local representative for many years.  On her 90th birthday she was given their 20 year pin for her service and loyalty.

Irene was a member of the board of Duncan and District Association for the Mentally Handicapped.  Her interest was in the mentally handicapped youth.   When she retired she wrote their Newsletter.

In 1987 the Duncan BPW honoured her with a plaque for Woman of the Month.  Irene was awarded the Certificate of Merit, from the Government of Canada for her contributions to her community in 1988. 

In 1992 she was honoured with a Certificate and Medal recognizing her significant contribution to Community and Canada as part of the 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada.

In 1992, Irene was given a Life Membership in the International Federation of the BPW. 

In May of 2006 Irene celebrated her 100th Birthday.  It was celebrated many times and the most important to us the members, was at our 60th anniversary of  the Duncan BPW.   She was celebrated at our  2004 BPW Conference held in Duncan, BC

In saddness I report that Irene died Februray 25th and a Celebration of Life was held on March 6th.  She was a great and  wonderful women and short 2 months of her 104th Buirthday.

Anna Clark
President