The cover of Council’s first annual report was pretty plain, but the content was exciting. Here is the text of the Letter of Transmittal from the first annual report of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, to PEI’s Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, George Proud, from the first Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Beatrice Reeves.
March 10, 
1976
The Honourable George Proud
Minister responsible for the Status of Women
124 University Avenue
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Dear Mr. Proud:
It is my pleasure to present to you the first
annual report of the Prince Edward Island Advisory
Council on the Status of Women covering my term of
office as Chairperson of the Council.
Yours sincerely,
Beatrice Reeves
Chairperson
(1975-6)
In 1975, Beatrice Reeves, an active participant in the Women’s Institute, was appointed the first Chairperson of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. In an interview for the Council’s 25th anniversary in 2000, she reflected on how, as International Women’s year, 1975 was an exciting time to be involved in women’s equality issues, with much work to be done.
Undated photo of Beatrice Reeves
Although there was fortunately no significant public backlash to the establishment of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, many people, including Members of Parliament, had communicated anti-feminist sentiments to her and the Council. She noted that there had since been positive changes in attitudes towards gender equality, yet women still carried the disproportionate load of the household alongside their careers.
In her time the Council addressed issues such as child care, pay equity, as well as abortion. Council had a policy that was pro-choice and proactive about sex education for schools, but this was still a point of contention for many. Another important issue the Council worked on during Beatrice’s term was protections for women after separation and divorce, of which the legislation did not yet exist.
Beatrice Reeves died in 2006 at the age of 85.
