Helena Gutteridge was a socialist and feminist whose vision helpedto shape social reform legislation in British Columbia in the firstdecades of the twentieth century, and also one of the first women thereto hold high political office.

She was born in England in 1879. A militant suffragist, tutored bythe Pankhursts, she learned the politics of confrontation early.Emigrating to Vancouver in 1911, she found the suffrage movement theretoo polite and organized the B.C. Woman's Suffrage League to helpworking women fight for the vote. And she kept on organizing. As ajourneyman tailor she was a power in her union local, and as the onlywoman on the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council -- their 'rebelgirl' -- she championed the rights of workers and organized womento fight for themselves. In the 1930s, as a member of the feisty newpolitical movement, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, shejoined in the struggles of the unemployed for work and wages. Then, in1937, as the first woman ever elected to Vancouver City Council, sheled the fight for low-income housing.

As was typical for women of her class and time, Helena did not keeppersonal records, nor did organizational records exist to any extent.Irene Howard made it her task, over a period of years, to search outand assemble details of Helena's life and career, and to interviewold comrades who knew Helena and the turbulent times in which shelived. Herself a miner's daughter, the author brings to her subjectan affectionate regard and sympathy qualified by the larger view of thescholar and researcher. The result is a lively biography, shot throughwith humour and pathos, that pays homage to Helena Gutteridge and tomany of the people who have been inspired by a cause and who havetaught us about the politics of caring.

A militant suffragist, a champion of workers' rights and afighter for low-income housing, Helena Gutteridge changed historywhen she was the first woman ever elected to Vancouver City Council.

About the Author
Irene Howard writes about the social history ofVancouver and has contributed articles to many journals andcollections, among them Vancouver Past. She is the author of a bookabout the early Swedish community in Vancouver and of the localbestseller, Bowen Island, 1872-1972.

Reviews
Irene Howard's biography of Gutteridge is an important step toward changing history's prejudices. It is also an inspiration to women and men who hunger for justice. -- Trish Webb * The Guardian *


Awards
Winner of University of British Columbia Medal for Canadian Biography, UBC 1992 (Canada). Short-listed for Vancouver Book Award, City of Vancouver 1993 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9780774804257
Author Irene Howard
Format Hardback
Page Count 328
Imprint University of British Columbia Press
Publisher University of British Columbia Press
Weight(grams) 700g