Have you heard the history of BC’s first women to drive transit, known as the “Conductorettes”?
A recent podcast by the BC Labour Heritage Centre reflects on these women and the contributions they made to the BC Electric Railway Trams.
Second World War & Women in the Workforce
Until the 1940s, working on trams and streetcars was a job exclusively held by white men. Women were not employed in these roles. The thought of a woman behind the controls of a tram of any size was unthinkable to many at the time.
That began to change during the Second World War, at least in terms of streetcars.
With thousands of men and women serving overseas, BC faced a significant labour shortage across many industries, including public transportation. This opened the door for women to take on responsibilities that had long been closed to them.
Introducing the Conductorettes
Starting in 1943, Vancouver saw the introduction of “Conductorettes”— women employed to manage passengers and fares aboard the smaller streetcars, or “trams”. These trams wound their way through city streets, keeping the region connected during a time of mass movement of people.
Up to 200 women took on this role during the war. Unlike in other wartime industries, these women didn’t lose their jobs when the war ended. Thanks in large part to union advocacy, many of them remained in the workforce, laying the foundation for greater gender equity in BC’s transit system.
Don Coltman photo, 1944, City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 586-1874.
BC Labour Heritage Centre
Listen to this episode from the BC Labour Heritage Centre’s podcast series On the Line: Stories of BC Workers.
Episode 31: Conductorettes – The First Women to Drive Transit features interviews with three of these remarkable women. Their voices offer a rare and powerful glimpse into life on the streetcars during wartime and the lasting legacy of their contributions.
Be sure to visit Steveston Tram this summer, open daily from 10am to 5pm, to further transport you into the bustling tramcar environment these workers once managed.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Edra McLeod, Women’s Labour History Project, VIVO Media Arts, SD_WLHP_EM6_004
