In addition, Isabelle Christian has been appointed to the position of Chairperson for the Advisory Council. Kirstin Lund, former Chairperson, has recently completed her five-year term with the Council.

“I am pleased to welcome Jane, Gwyn, Susan, Pauline and Andie to their role as members of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women,” said Minister Docherty. “Their qualifications clearly demonstrate a strong commitment to helping women and their families. I also welcome Isabelle as the new Chair. I have great faith that these women, together with the other Council members, will make a difference in the lives of Island women.”

Jane Boyd of Summerside maintains a busy consulting practice that develops solutions related to employee management, work-life balance, child care and human resource issues. For more than 20 years, Jane has been actively involved in the child care field. She has 12 years direct experience supporting the development of Montessori programs and their related child care services for families. Currently, Jane is managing the development of two new Montessori private school programs in Summerside and Charlottetown.

Gwyn Davies of Gairlock is dedicated to working for women and children experiencing violence and fear of violence. Gwyn is the Outreach worker for Eastern PEI Family Violence Prevention Services. Gwyn is a mother of three grown daughters. She lives with her husband in Gairlock where they have a home-based business raising turkeys.

Susan Connolly of Charlottetown is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Prince Edward Island. She practices Corporate and Commercial Law at Stewart McKelvey in Charlottetown. She is on the Boards of Women’s Network PEI and Pat and the Elephant.

Pauline Thompson of Canoe Cove has worked as a child care specialist at the Anderson House Emergency Shelter and as a Kindergarten Program Supervisor at the Y.M.C.A. in Charlottetown. She was the International Volunteer of the Year, (PEI) recipient (2001), and currently volunteers at the Hospice Palliative Care Unit - Prince Edward Home. She is a member of the Canoe Cove Women’s Institute.

Andie Bulman of Charlottetown has been actively involved in equality work at the UPEI campus including involvement at the UPEI Women’s Centre, coordination of the PEIACSW Purple Ribbon Pinning Bee at UPEI, and had organized an International Women’s Day Concert Fundraiser where a female cast entertained and raised funds for the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Centre.

The new members join a Council that also includes Isabelle Christian (Chair) of Stratford, Sr. Norma Gallant of Wellington, Roseanne Sark of Summerside and Sadie MacKenzie of Montague.

“We are very pleased to have such passionately dedicated Island women appointed to our Council,” says Lisa Murphy, Executive Director of the Advisory Council. “We know that their diverse insights and experience will help us to advise government well. Every time we receive a new appointment to Council, it is a time for fresh ideas that can make a difference for the quality of life for unequal Island women and girls and their families.”

The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women is an arms-length government agency mandated to advise the provincial government and bring before the public matters relating to the status of women. The Council works for equality and supports women's full and active participation in social, legal, cultural, economic and political spheres of life.

For more information about the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, please contact Lisa Murphy, Executive Director at (902) 368-4510.