50 Ways: Past Chairpersons

October is Mi’kmaq History Month in Epekwitk & Women’s History Month in Canada 

While the Advisory Council on the Status of Women’s appointed Chairpersons have a term limit on their service, we always say that we don’t let our past-Chairpersons go easily! A total of 23 women in PEI have been named Chairperson of the Advisory Council since 1975. Four of the women who chaired the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women since its inception in 1975 have since passed away. We keep their photos on display in the office. 

Here is a tribute to each of them, Beatrice Reeves, Beth Percival, Andrea Wood, and Diane Kays.

Beatrice Reeves, 1st Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1975-1976

Member of the Order of Canada. Died April 27, 2006

Herstory in her own words from A Baker’s Dozen, 2000: Born in Toronto in 1921, I spent most of my younger years in Montreal where my mother was widowed and raised 4 children on her own. I went to school in Montreal, took a business course and worked as a stenographer, then as a secretary for 5 years. In 1942, I married Malcolm, who was studying engineering at McGill University. Then in 1945, we returned to PEI to work on 

Malcolm’s family farm in Crossroads and farmed until about 1970. Malcolm then worked for government while I stayed on the farm and looked after our 4 children.

My involvement with the Women’s Institute began in 1947 in the local branch, then I served on the provincial board from 1969 and, finally, on the national board for 19 years. For me, the WI was a means of getting to know people in my community and it had great meaning to me. I ended my term in 1988 as the national president. I was appointed as the first Chairperson of the Advisory Council just after the Council’s establishment in 1975. I was also President of the United Church Women and the first woman board member of the Central Farmers’ Coop. In 1992, I was honoured to receive the Order of Canada for all of my volunteer commitments.

My husband Malcolm died in 1990. He had been such a support to me and was always a great source of encouragement. I’m now retired and spend the winters in the warmth of Florida and the summers at my home in Charlottetown spending as much time as possible with my 7 grandchildren.

When Beatrice Reeves died in 2006, a news release from the Advisory Council said this:

“While Beatrice Reeves was Chairperson of the Advisory Council, one of the main projects of Council was working to see women appointed to decision-making positions,” says current Council Chairperson Kirstin Lund. “Reflecting on that work, Ms. Reeves later said, ‘It really became something for us to see women appointed to higher positions; it showed other women that this was possible.’”

Lund continues, “Today, we are working to see more women elected to decision-making positions, and we know that this work builds on the efforts Beatrice Reeves and women leaders like her made thirty years ago.”

“In many ways, we continue to build on the work of Beatrice Reeves and far-seeing Island women of her generation,” says Council Director Lisa Murphy. “In Ms. Reeves’ time, Council addressed issues such as child care and pay equity. They worked to ensure that young people would get sexual health education in the schools. They pressed for changes in the law that would protect women’s rights after family breakups.

“These issues are still with us, and the Advisory Council continues to work on them. But a path has been laid out for our work, thanks to the dedication of those who went before us,” says Murphy.

Andrea Duvar Wood, 2nd Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1976-1977

Died August 29, 1996

Herstory, compiled with help from her sister, from A Baker’s Dozen, 2000: Andrea Duvar was born in Charlottetown in 1942. She attended Prince of Wales College before moving to Montreal to attend Sir George Williams (now Concordia) University. Part of her university training was to work as program director and swimming instructor at the Westmount YMCA in Montreal. This continued her lifelong passion for swimming – a passion that began during her summers on the shores of PEI. At the time swimming pools were a rarity and most lessons took place on beaches. Andrea was the first woman in PEI to receive the Red Cross Surf Lifeguard Award. When Andrea returned to PEI after university, she worked as program director at the YMCA in Charlottetown and was involved with the Red Cross Water Safety Program. She was always very active and also loved to play the piano.

In 1965, Andrea married Blair Wood and they lived on a farm in Brudenell and raised three children – Linda, Susan and Robert. All three have since graduated from university – in Nursing, Law and Forestry, respectively.

She was active in the 4H, Boys and Girls Club, Montague Zonta Club, Music Festival Association, and Women’s Institute. She also served on the Board of Directors at UPEI. While the children were growing up, she taught Sunday School at Hillcrest United Church in Montague and volunteered as a Brownie leader and at the local figure skating association.

In the 1980s, Andrea and Blair retired from farming and became part owners, then sole owners, of the Lobster Shanty North Restaurant until the early 1990s. After selling the Lobster Shanty, Andrea became manager at the Rodd’s Confederation Inn during the last few years of her life. When she could, Andrea spent time at a family cottage in Holland Cove, outside the Charlottetown Harbour. This special place was a haven for her from the time she was about three years old. In July 1996, Andrea became ill and was diagnosed with cancer. She died August 29. She was happy to have been able to meet her first grandson, Devin, who took his first steps in her hospital room.

Elizabeth Fox Percival, 4th Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1978-1980

Died May 23, 2001

Herstory in her own words from A Baker’s Dozen, 2000: Born and raised in the US, I moved to Alberta, Canada in 1965 where I earned my MA and PhD in Psychology. I moved to PEI in 1971 and have been teaching psychology and women’s studies at UPEI since 1974. I was involved in establishing the Women’s Studies Program at the University, and served as its first Coordinator.

Involvement in various women’s issues, both on and off campus, has been a constant in my life for the past twenty-some years.

In addition to serving as Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council, I was on the board of SAS – Services for Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault & Sexual Abuse – from shortly after its founding until its recent change and transformation into SAGE. I’ve also been involved with the Rape/Sexual Assault Crisis Centre for a number of years – participating in annual training sessions, and now as a board member. Nationally, I was a founding board member of MediaWatch, a board member and president of CRIAW (Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women), and was coordinator of the Canadian Psychological Association’s Section on Women & Psychology.

These days I get special joy from opportunities (too far apart) to see my adorable grandson, Garret, and his baby sister Emma.

Quoted in a news release from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2001, Advisory Council on the Status of Women Director Heidi Rankin said,

“Beth chaired, founded, co-sponsored, co-ordinated or participated in many of the initiatives that have come out of the women’s movement in the past 30 years. … We will miss Beth’s enthusiasm and passion, but her commitment to social change and women’s equality will always be remembered.”

Diane Kays, 16th Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 2011-2015

Died March 28, 2015

The news release from the Advisory Council on the Status of Women following Diane’s death said this:

It is with overwhelming sadness that the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women reports that our Chairperson Diane Kays died yesterday, March 28, 2015, after a brief illness.

Appointed to the Advisory Council in March 2011, Diane took up the role of Chairperson in August of that year. During her term as Chairperson, she devoted incredible time and energy to the Council’s work, taking an active part in the life of the office and of the Council, seeing the Council through a restructuring in 2012, and maintaining a strong and respectful relationship with Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Valerie Docherty. Diane represented the Advisory Council on the province’s Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council and the Victim Services Advisory Committee, offering her irreplaceable knowledge and experience to these groups.

Diane Kays grew up in Charlottetown, a first-generation Canadian of parents born in Lebanon. She was proud of her Lebanese heritage. She graduated from St. Dunstan’s University and then received a Master’s of Social Work at Dalhousie’s Maritime School of Social Work. She spent more than 30 years in social work (in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and eight years as a small business owner.

Her social work career focused on individual and family therapy, community development, and program development. Diane was also a Lecturer and Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University School of Social Work and worked in private practice (therapy and consulting).

Diane retired from social work in 2009 and moved home to Charlottetown, first to help care for her mother, Esma, in the last years of her life, and then to live with her beloved sister Doreen.

Islanders will remember the special grace she brought to emceeing the annual Montreal Massacre Memorial Service, especially her moving speech “Her Name Was Eleanor…” at that service in 2011. Her strong voice for vulnerable women and families will be missed during the upcoming spring election.

“Our hearts are broken,” says Advisory Council Executive Director Jane Ledwell. “We have lost a beacon of feminist experience and a strong voice for all Island families, but most of all we have lost a friend and counsellor.” Council staff Ledwell, Michelle Jay, and Becky Tramley met with Diane weekly, sharing their accomplishments and goals with seriousness, but also with fun and laughter. “There was so much more that Diane wanted to accomplish to support women and their families in Prince Edward Island, and she had so much more to contribute,” says Ledwell. “We are devastated to lose her so suddenly and so soon. We will miss her with all our hearts.”

Diane’s posthumous service award, presented to her sister Doreen, read as follows:

Diane Kays of Charlottetown served as Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women from 2011 until her death in March 2015. She was the Council’s 16th Chairperson since 1975. Diane took on the leadership of the Advisory Council during a time of transition and transformation. Her unswerving feminism, her commitment to front-line work and workers, her professionalism and collaborative spirit, and her amazing experience with victims of trauma, abuse, and violence left an indelible mark on the Council. Diane was also funny, loving, adventurous, intelligent, and kind. Council staff, government officials for the status of women, and Council members who served alongside Diane will appreciate and remember her always.

In remembrance of Diane, for her extraordinary leadership in helping the PEI ACSW advance the status of women in PEI.

Every year since 2012, the current Chairperson invites all past-Chairpersons to take part in a gathering and consultation. This year’s consultation was a focus group for the 2026 Equality Report Card. Current Chair Hsiao-Yu Liu welcomed six past Chairpersons to the Council office for cake and conversation.