Dr. Marcia Braundy’s commitment to feminism and the mission and work of the West Kootenay Women’s Association (WKWA) has resulted in the permanent recording of many significant events and documents.  Noted below is information about the journey of the Women’s Centre from its inception in 1973 to its current home at 420 Mill Street.  For a more complete herstory please visit www.kootenayfeminism.com.

1972  Vita Luthers (Storey), one of the inspirational founders of the Nelson Women’s Centre, travels to Vancouver and returns with $7,600 in federal funds from the Secretary of State.  Thus begins the Nelson Women’s Centre, the first Women’s Centre outside of the Lower Mainland.  (Now the longest running rural Women’s Centre in Canada)

January, 1973  The Nelson Women’s Centre officially opens it doors, upstairs in the Peterson Building, 490 Ward Street.

1977  The Women’s Centre becomes the main project of the newly formed non-profit society, West Kootenay Women’s Association.

1978  The Women’s Centre moves to the Old Jam Factory

1994 -95  After many years of moving, the Women’s Centre finds a permanent home at 420 Mill Street.  Six months of renovations and hours of volunteer time, led by local carpenter, Sally Mackenzie, allows the new location to open its doors in January, 1995.  The Women’s Centre is later dedicated as the Jean Mackenzie House in honor of the commitment of  Vita and Sally and all the women who worked tirelessly to make a permanent home for West Kootenay women.

“A feminist is a man or woman who already knows for a fact that man and woman are equals, and who want society to wake to that fact, so the world can stop operating at half strength;  so that half the brains, half the inspiration, half the joy and beauty, half the human resources in the world will no longer be wasted.�  
Mario Thomas