2007 Women Of Distinction recipient Darlene Lawson: social justice

Darlene Lawson

putting feminist issues on the social agenda

YWCA Toronto woman of distinction 2007, social justice

Darlene Lawson is a feminist pioneer who has fought on the frontlines for social justice for women for over three decades. With boundless passion, determination and creative vision, she has broken new ground and championed issues before they were part of public discourse. In her efforts to expose gender-based inequities, change policies and create opportunities for the betterment of women, whether it be the treatment of women in prison, starting a women’s shelter, initiating a counselling and support service for lesbians, getting women elected to public office, or providing leadership to women’s services, she has effected social change for women. This legacy makes her the recipient of the 2007 YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction Award for Social Justice.

Born in Toronto, Ms. Lawson obtained an Honours BA at Victoria College, University of Toronto, where she continued on to do an MA in Social Work. In 1973, she founded Interval House, one of the earliest shelters for abused women and children in Canada, and the first in Ontario. Started on a summer grant, she spent the first year of its existence ensuring its sustainability as well as offering management, administration and direct support to victims of woman abuse. It was here her commitment to the eradication of violence against women took root, and where she first experienced the immense power of women sharing their truths and of working together to create change.

She was the Coordinator for The Women’s Place, a gathering spot for budding feminists, and went on to work in the Vanier Prison for Women, providing release planning and counselling including specialized services to First Nations women and women with addictions. Then as its Administrator and Fundraiser, she successfully acquired permanent funding for the Women’s Counselling Referral and Education Centre (WCREC).

Ms. Lawson has challenged the systemic barriers to women in conflict with the law, including barriers related to class and diversity. She distinguished herself as a leader, as President of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, and as an author of the Creating Choices report, which led to the closing of the Kingston Prison for Women and the establishment of regional centres so that women could be closer to their families. As Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto for 10 years, she spearheaded a change in that agency’s direction to serve women who were high risk and high need. Darlene Lawson has demanded that women in conflict with the law be treated with dignity, respect and an understanding of the root causes underlying their incarceration, and has helped many women access the resources to stay out of prison.

Ms. Lawson was instrumental in starting Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW), exposing pornography and female genital mutilation as forms of violence against women. Her commitment to equity for women has also been essential in the building of the lesbian community in Toronto. Her ability to gauge and act on other women’s needs as a result of her own experiences helped shape The Lesbian Organization of Toronto (LOOT), where she was a founder, providing support when issues of equality based on sexual orientation were far from the public mind, facilitating many women’s coming out in the face of discrimination.

Ms. Lawson has the rare gift of being able to move seamlessly from grassroots women’s activism to large women’s organizations to the mainstream political system, all to advance social change. Long committed to getting women’s issues as priorities on the legislative agenda, through her participation on the Mayor’s Task Force on the Status of Women and the National Advisory Committee on the Federal Female Offender, her voice has helped to shape public policy. As Chief of Staff to David Christopherson, former Solicitor General and Minister of Corrections for Ontario, she helped to ensure that frequently downplayed issues of violence against women were among the top priorities of policy makers, and helped to establish better communication and cooperation between the police, sexual assault centres and legislators. She has run political campaigns to get women elected to office and in her role as a political organizer she has always created campaign teams in which women have key roles. In politics, in activism, in women’s services, Ms. Lawson has mentored other women to assume leadership positions in the movement toward social change.

Under her leadership as its Executive Director, the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic has secured permanent funding for its Legal Services for women victims of violence. Together with the staff and Board, she is committed to extending the Clinic’s reach to women who are the most vulnerable and isolated. She remains focused on women for whom accessibility is most often denied, including non-English speaking immigrant and refugee women.

From establishing historic services for women victims of violence, to achieving systemic changes resulting in greater equity for women, from bringing issues of gender inequity into public awareness to enhancing the lives of countless women, for her unfaltering steadfastness to women’s rights and social equality for over a quarter of a century, Darlene Lawson is the 2007 Woman of Distinction for Social Justice.