RISE UP! EPISODE ONE: BEGINNINGS

RISE UP! THE STORY OF VANCOUVER RAPE RELIEF AND WOMEN’S SHELTERWelcome to Rise Up! The Story of Vancouver Rape Relief, a four-part series about one of Canada’s most groundbreaking feminist movements. Fierce working-class feminist advocate, Lee Lakeman, tells the story of Canada’s oldest rape crisis centre, the uprising of women there, and their decades long battle to stay women-only. In this first episode, we go back to the 1970s, a time when violence against women was ignored, and survivors had nowhere to turn.A small group of women in Vancouver decided to change that. Meeting in kitchens and community spaces, they launched one of Canada’s first rape crisis helplines—giving survivors a voice and demanding real change. But they didn’t stop there. They organised protests, confronted authorities, and built a movement that would shape the fight against gender-based violence.It wasn’t easy. They faced pushback from the system, funding challenges, and even internal debates. But their determination turned a grassroots effort into a force that still fights for women’s safety and justice today.Brought to you by Julie Bindel and the Vancouver Lesbian Collective.Producer: Samantha SmithArtwork: Nicole Jones This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliebindel.substack.com/subscribe