RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-16 SUMMARY: Came to Canada from West Germany in 1958, her husband came in 1956; he got a job right away in the Kootenays; she stayed and worked in an office to earn money for the fare to move to Victoria; left daughter behind in a French boarding school for one year; spoke little English, neighbours, TV and radio helped; took her a year to become fluent; talks about upbringing and laziness; baked and learned how to make ethnic foods; now cooks "international"; neighbours helped her to cook and can; missed family, felt cut-off; difference in childrearing here and in Germany; language difficulties; people very friendly in the Kootenays and Victoria; English classes; meeting friends; Germans; help; immigrants are practical people; had no trade, could only clean houses at first; difficulties Canadians face hiring immigrants; accept new country's customs; didn't consider moving back; visit was a cultural shock; part of two cultures; speaks German at home; how it was for her daughter when she came in 1959; similarity of French, German and English languages; discrimination toward daughter at school; German club and school; passing on customs to daughter; learning how to drive a car; husband has control over money and shopping; learned things by herself when he went to Nelson; insisted on a car for independence; Europe them and now; changes in relationship between husband and wife; no money to have a baby; saved money; first husband supportive; ICA, German Club, Multicultural Association; activities she takes part in; courtesy to Canadians; learning to assimilate; differences between boys and girls; good citizenship; expectations on new Canadians; passing on traditions; advice to newcomers; BC government encourages immigrants to share.

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-16 SUMMARY: Came from Tokyo, Japan in 1969; to Vancouver; husband wanted to live here; they knew no one here; moved to Victoria to get another job; biggest problem was not knowing English; was working in the Japanese community; not as active here as in Japan, partly because of the language; speaks of educational differences between Canadians and Japanese; value of two cultures to children; daughter speaks of being western; day care in Japan; more jobs needed here; Japanese Cultural Association, what they do; Tokyo is very crowded, although there are more jobs there; likes Victoria very much.

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-19 SUMMARY: Talks about her escape from Vietnam on a boat in 1980; talks about camp in Malaysia and being allowed to come to Canada; arrival in Montreal, then Victoria; help from different Canadian people; what life was like in Vietnam before they left; getting a job when she first came; learning English; children speak English; she has two jobs, her husband can't find work; learning to get around in Victoria;, shop, pay bills, etc. Intercultural Association, Catholic-Vietnamese church; festivals; raising children; taking the best from two cultures; some differences in raising child in Vietnam and Canada; learning English is the most important thing, then getting a job; working is very important and makes her happy; doesn't want money from the government.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-21 SUMMARY: Came from China [big city near Hong Kong] in December 1980; was an accountant in China; why she came - her children were here; difficulty in coming to Canada; what she knew about Canada; differences here; language barrier; how she felt on coming here; family problems; language problems; job problems; dependency; had a job, but her son wanted her to quit; sons supporting parent; older women working; different living conditions here and in China; economic conditions, jobs, etc. in China; how she spends her time here; English lessons, learning English; she is active, independent; feeling of inferiority about language difference; Chinese/Canadian culture; wants more programs to integrate better; harder for older people.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-21 SUMMARY: Came from Taiwan to Vancouver in 1983; came to Canada because her children are here; what surprises she found here; working; marriage; differences here and in Taiwan; living conditions Taiwan, better here; husband was a teacher, but is now retired; she is happy here; easy to immigrate here; what she does here; languages problems; diet changes; wants to learn about Canadian culture; Chinese and English speaking agencies working together, using body language, games and activities; citizenship; women and work in Taiwan; day care; childrearing in Canada and Taiwan; shopping; swimming; encouraging senior Chinese to get out and about; misconception of Chinese isolation; desire to integrate.

The series consists of the executive records of the Ministry of Women’s Equality, and the preceding ministry, the Minister of Government Management Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Programs (as it relates to women’s issues). Executive records are the administrative and operational records of the offices of minister, deputy ministers, and assistant deputy ministers.

In 1991, the Ministry of Women’s Programs and Government Services was disestablished, and two ministries were established: The Ministry of Women’s Equality and the Ministry of Government Services. At this time, the duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Minister of Women’s Programs and Government Services and Minister Responsible for Families with respect to women’s programs, including the Task Force on Family Violence, the Advisory Council on Services for Women, and the employment equity program were transferred to the Ministry of Women’s Equality (OIC 1377).

The records document a broad range of activities and interests of the ministries involved, as they relate to women. Some of the subjects covered here include: child care and the Community Care Facility Act; domestic violence and transitional housing; equal pay and employment equity; and Aboriginal women.

The records are comprised of meeting minutes and agendas, memoranda, briefing notes and estimates, and discussion papers. The records also consist of those relating to committees and task forces on which executive members served or were involved with in some capacity, including the Inter-Ministry Committee on Public Awareness on Violence Against Women, Task Force on Child Care, Advisory Council on Community Based Programs, and the Executive Committee. There is also substantial correspondence from private citizens, organizations, and businesses to members of the executive of the Ministry, as well as the Premier, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and correspondence addressed to other ministries which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Women’s Equality. Additionally, there are day planners of Deputy Ministers, Sheila Wynn and Isabel Kelly, and Penny Priddy’s schedules and itineraries, during the time that she served as Minister of Women’s Equality in 1991-1996.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-21 SUMMARY: Came from the Western Ukraine in the Soviet Union in 1979 with her husband; difficulties in coming, language problems; graduated and taught French there; husband got language classes; she took ESL; getting permission to immigrate; finding work here; living conditions here and in Russia; people; easier for her daughter; apartments and medical care in Russia; getting clothes and furniture from the government; family left in Russia; spare time; working here; freedom here; Russian communities here; initial politeness from Canadian; two cultures; speaking Russian at home; adjustment from women immigrants; women having a double load, housework and job; keeping old values; childrearing here and Russia; school system there; going to university in Russia; childrearing there; small ethnic communities; some examples of her Russian clients' problems for professional women coming here; freedom of life here; counseling and work as Mosaic; advice to new immigrants; finding jobs here; support from immigration; getting experience; giving up her profession; women from different cultures have different problems; Mosaic very important help.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-21 SUMMARY: Came from Argentina in 1969; was working for an airline selling tickets; took French and Italian; husband's brother coming here from Italy, so they came too; lived with them; had three children and was pregnant when she came; return to Argentina in 1970, decided to return here as there was no work there either; speaking English; loneliness, missing home; making friends here; talks about neighbours; here and there; learning to speak English; working at White Spot; shopping without much English; husband picked up English faster, he was outside the home more; staying at home most of the time; Spanish-speaking community; Mosaic, joining and working; differences between here and Buenos Aires; started going out after about five years here; talks about children and childrearing; speaks Spanish at home; expectations on women; family life; learning language before coming; importance of orienting new immigrants; relating with English-speaking people.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-22 SUMMARY: Born in India; came here with family in 1962; returned for 10 months in 1974; father is a Sikh priest, asked to come to Canada; mother encouraged him to come; father worked in mill as well; wages in both jobs very low; sponsored family with help of temple committee; 1969 father had a bad accident and now gets handicapped pension; mother more modern than father, mother is more educated, made easier adjustment to life here; mother's English pretty good, had a B.A.; mother worked in janitorial; dishwasher; reception; waitressing jobs; feelings about being part of two cultures; mother was rejected by the Indian community for modern ways; expectations of Indian community; respect for parents by children; retaining Indian culture, sense of family responsibilities; difficulties growing up part of two cultures; father didn't like children speaking English; sister rebelled against arranged marriage; father's feelings about modern wife; marriage eventually destroyed; restricted life living in the temple; sisters and brothers; Westernization depends on length of stay; father went to England in 1972; difficult for women immigrants; comparison of upbringing of boys and girls; working at Oasis; alcohol; women able to help themselves here, alternatives, support; how people come to Canada; some had a better life at home; women don't work in India; adjustment hardest for old people; learning English; differences in age groups; problems coming here; restrictions on and mistreatment of women; alcohol and physical abuse; what men do with their time; recommendations; Oasis; changing attitudes; attitudes and expectations of men; Caucasians and Indians need to reach out to each other; political problems, fear, hostility, discrimination; problems of visible minority; tolerance here and in India; change and assimilation takes a long time.

SUMMARY: [No content summary or documentation available.];

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-22 SUMMARY: Came to Vancouver in November 1984 from Northern India; married in 1983, arranged by parents; just at home before that, went to college for two years, finished in 1975; supported by parents; husband was in Canada, went back to India to marry her; husband is a dishwasher in a restaurant, he came here in 1980; feelings about coming here; learning English; what she does here; unhappiness; family problems; treatment by her husband; demands for money; alcoholism and abuse; how her father- and mother-in-law treated her; left husband recently, supported by Oasis; confusion about staying or returning to India; difficulties now, not speaking English, getting around; future plans, going to England; comparison of life here and in India; came from a well-to-do family; projected problems bringing up a baby; discussion of help from Oasis; pregnancy customs in India; comparison of women's roles here and in India; can't take more classes because of the baby; reads English books; possibility of learning English in England; future plans to find work; not much contact with the outside world reasons for wanting to stay in Canada; feelings toward her husband; difficulty in getting money from him; why they got married; deception.

RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1985-08-17 SUMMARY: Came from Punjab, India in 1980; was a housewife; husband working in a private company; three children came here with her, sponsored by her son; better living here than in India; she takes care of the children and grandchildren; had her own house and land in India; husband works in a factory; partnership; similarity of life here and in India; what she does here, cooking, shopping etc.; missing India and the children there -- they can't come here; what she likes about Canada; difficulty of not speaking English; classes; social life; previous job in Canada; comparison of jobs in India and Canada; older women do not work in India; why she wants to live in Canada, her children; goes to temple here; being part of Canadian culture; feelings about Canadians; comparison of women working.

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-26 SUMMARY: Came from the south of France in 1982; was a student, her husband is Canadian; talks about marriage and leaving France; how her lifestyle changed upon moving to Canada; social strata more strict in France, more open here; making friends, finding a job; speaking English; support from the Multicultural Association and the Francophone Society; social events, comparison here and France; father's attitudes about education and work for a woman; job at Gibson's, English improved; return to school here; attempts to find work teaching; wants to feel independent; how philosophy has changed, grown; learning English; work on cable TV program; able to approach MLAs; what she misses, going back; differences in childrearing, education; respect; male/female roles here and in France; view of women in France and Canada; how she has changed here; women's movement in France; feeling both Canadian and French; teaching/sharing her language and culture; being part of French groups here; making good friends here is difficult; friend's experiences have been different; suggestions for integrating into Canadian culture; taking courses; classes at different places; clubs and associations; English-speaking people need to be more aware; possibility of exchanging [ideas?] between immigrant and Canadian women; difficulty in going to university here.

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-27 SUMMARY: Came from mainland Greece near Delphi in 1960; small towns and villages in that area; she left when she was fifteen, she wanted more freedom; sister came to marry; changes in coming here; returned hom;e and decided to stay in Canada; difficulties; her will to make it work; advantages and youth; sense of freedom; children don't leave home in Greece; differences in childrearing; bringing two cultures; together; carrying old values and passing them on; sense of heritage plus freedom and openness; family life in Greece; differences in treatment of boys and girls, men and women; women in marriage; We;stern versus Greek customs; not speaking English; difficulties of immigrating; language problems; going to school and working, dishwashing and waitressing; put herself through trade school; has her ow;n business now; surprised at the government support here; not much time to socialize; cultural organizations and the Greek community; Greek customs and celebrations; advantages of cultural association;s; no more Greeks coming here; people leave Greece to better their lives; education in Greece when she left; feels cheated by her lack of education; difficulty for older people to adapt to a new count;ry; advice to newcomers; be open-minded and patient; language problem; different people are different in their priorities; programs which reach out are helpful, but people need to do it themselves; IC;A and SWAG working together.;

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-30 SUMMARY: Came from Hong Kong in 1984; was working in a bank and a school as a secretary; meeting husband; marriage; immigration to Canada; feelings about coming to Canada; speaking English, learning English; c;lasses concentrate on grammar, not conversation; changes in life upon coming here; difficulty in finding work because she can't speak English; what she does with her time; shopping; friends; the Inter;cultural Association; feelings about living in Canada; financial situation; life in Canada and Hong Kong; language problems; becoming more Canadian; Chinese and Canadian customs; life in Hong Kong.;

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-08-30 SUMMARY: What the Intercultural Association is, what they do; programs they have; ways they reach groups of immigrants; agencies that refer immigrants; staff; funding and staffing problems; getting worse since; 1983; 50% is through own fundraising; numbers of people served in community; learning what Canadian life is like; survival English classes; social orientation; priority needs of immigrants; employmen;t needs and goal setting; suggestions for SWAG to interact with ICA and/or immigrant women.;

RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-09-25 SUMMARY: [No content summaries or documentation available for this interview.];