We are asking each current staff person with the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women to choose a milestone year to reflect on among these “50 Ways to Achieve Equality” posts. Today’s significant year is selected by Becky Tramley, part-time Office Manager, who chose 1986, the year she started working with the Advisory Council, as her milestone year.
My career with the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women began in 1986, when I was asked to fill in for just two weeks in the office. This month, those two weeks have somehow stretched into 39 years! While my title has evolved over the years – from secretary/bookkeeper, to administrative assistant, to office assistant, to office administrator, and finally to Office Manager – my core role has always been to provide dedicated and reliable office support. In 1993, my position shifted to part-time, as the Council’s needs changed. This allowed me to continue to support the Council’s important equality work through almost four decades!
Becky, 1986-87.
2nd Floor Office, 180 Richmond Street – photo taken during a birthday celebration: L-R: Dianne Porter (PEI Status of Women), Shirley Jay (PEI Home & School), Terry Mitchell (Women’s Network PEI), Dianne Hicks Morrow (Women’s Network PEI), Heather Orford (PEI Status of Women), Anne McCallum (Women’s Network PEI/Common Ground), and Fran Piercey (PEI Human Rights Commission).
Throughout these years of change, one constant theme of my career was helping the Council move and get settled again. Here is a look back at our many homes:
180 Richmond Street (1986): I joined the Executive Director and Chairperson on the 2nd floor of this cozy, historic building. We had one shared phone with a very long cord! We were fortunate to share the 2nd floor with wonderful neighbours such as Women’s Network PEI, PEI Home & School Association, and the PEI Human Rights Commission.
84-86 Great George Street (now The Gallery – Coffee House & Bistro): This was a move to a large, bright space with beautiful brick accent walls. And this location was particularly memorable because it’s where we launched the Council’s new library, thanks to a grant and the hard work of a project team.
3 Queen Street: We occupied much of the top floor, giving our growing library ample room. However, the lack of accessibility meant sometimes important meetings had to be held in the busy first-floor waiting area, which could make confidentiality difficult. With the growth of the World Wide Web/Internet, the library was shut down and the collection was eventually donated to equality-seeking organizations and public libraries.
Co-worker reunion in the 1990s: L-R: Ellen Reynolds, Lisa Murphy, Becky T, and Heidi Rankin.
11 Kent Street-Jones Building: With our Minister Responsible also being the Transportation Minister, we were moved to a floor with Transportation and Public Works – a move that was less than ideal. Our office space was hard to find and lacked the public accessibility needed for our events and outreach.
9 Queen Street: We moved back to a central, accessible, and visible location downtown. Though narrow with a few high windows, this office featured a wonderful display window we loved using to promote our events and campaigns. We also shared a hallway with the PEI Literacy Alliance.
We’re Moving poster and newspaper clipping of Chairperson Patricia Roy welcoming Pat Mella to the opening of the new office.
PEI Status of Women – Two teams, in transition in 2004 – In photo, L-R: Leaving staff members Heidi Rankin and Patricia MacAulay, and staying on/joining are Becky T, Lisa Murphy, and Jane Ledwell, with workshop facilitator Kirstin Lund.
Sherwood Business Centre, 161 St. Peter’s Road (Current): Our current home is on the main floor of the familiar old Ellis Bros mall. While it may not be our most visible location, we’ve made the most of it, sharing the space with two non-profit organizations and a government agency/tribunal, often sharing detailed directions to guide people to us!
Looking back, October of 1986 was the start of an unexpected but very meaningful career. Beyond the walls and addresses of every office, the greatest privilege has been working alongside so many dedicated and incredible Council staff and members. I’ve learned so much from every PEI Status of Women team I’ve been a part of. To name them all would be impossible – and I wouldn’t want to miss a single one!
PEI Status of Women staff team members in December 2024: Trish Altass, Caroline Galloway, Becky T, Jane Ledwell, and Michelle Jay.
Council members and staff at Stratford Town Hall, September 2025.
With retirement just around the corner next year, I am so grateful for the friendships, the support, the opportunities, and the shared work and commitment that has made PEI a better place for women, children, and their families.
