Honorary Degree Recipient 2015

Margaret Phillips - Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters

Margaret Phillips is co-founder of the Northern Woman’s Bookstore and was a member of the Advisory Committee that created the Department of Women’s Studies at Lakehead University.

In the 1970s, a vibrant feminist community evolved in Thunder Bay that provided women-centred services, advocacy and political action, but there was no literature being offered to meet its needs. That meant visiting larger cities to find the books that were missing in Thunder Bay.

To provide access to feminist literature, Phillips founded the Northern Woman’s Bookstore in 1984 with the late Anna McColl. Now, writing circles, workshops, book clubs, and reading and social events make the Northern Woman’s Bookstore a literary gem.

Phillips views the Bookstore as a service instead of a business. Its most important role is providing a safe space for women. It also provides lesbian literature and books on feminist analysis, violence and women’s history, as well as literary fiction, poetry and children’s books. A special emphasis is placed on Northwestern Ontario writers and Aboriginal authors.

During most of her adult life, Phillips has worked for social justice – particularly with feminist issues and aboriginal rights. Since she began advocating for these issues, Phillips has seen modest improvements, but she feels society still has a long way to go to eliminate racism and sexism.

She also worked in recreation. Her early work was, for a young woman at that time, pioneering. Phillips worked in municipal recreation in Renfrew, North Bay, Iroquois Falls and Kenora. This included the organization and administration of sports, cultural and adult education programs, and leadership development for youth and adults.

Phillips received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies from Lakehead University in 1980. She served as a Director on the Board of Inter Pares, an international development organization seeking change in the status of women worldwide, and as a Board member of the Canadian Council on Social Development. She was also the executive director of the Lakehead Social Planning Council from 1971 to 1981.

In 2008, the Northwestern Ontario Writers’ Workshop honoured Phillips by presenting her with the Kouhi Award for her outstanding contributions to the literature of Northwestern Ontario.

Margaret Phillips will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters.