The Woman's Christian Temperance Union in Canada originated in Owen Sound, Ont, in 1884. Under the influence of Letitia YOUMANS of Picton, Ont, the temperance union idea spread and a national WCTU was organized in 1885, with Youmans as president. At the time, the union was the largest
non-denominational women's organization in Canada. Believing that the abuse of alcohol was the cause of unemployment, disease, prostitution, poverty and immorality, the WCTU campaigned for the legal PROHIBITION of all alcoholic beverages. The WCTU promoted the work ethic of sobriety, thrift, duty and family sanctity, in addition to such reforms as WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, sex hygiene and mothers' allowances. National and provincial prohibition legislation, approved during WWI, was a highlight for the WCTU. The defeat of these laws and the adoption of government control of alcoholic beverages during the 1920s heralded the decline of the organization.
In 1995 there were 1700 members in 67 branches (down from 2473 in 1987).
Author NANCY M. SHEEHAN
See also Temperance Union
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Youmans, Letitia, née Creighton, temperance worker (born in Hamilton Twp, UC 3 Jan 1827; died at Toronto 18 July 1896), founder of the WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION in Canada. Educated at the Burlington Ladies' Academy, she graduated in 1847 and taught there for 2 years. She then went to the Picton Ladies' Academy and became its preceptress in the spring of 1850, marrying later that year. In 1868 she became increasingly involved in Sunday school and TEMPERANCE work. As a result of both these interests, she attended the CHAUTAUQUA Assembly in 1874 where she met leaders of the American women's temperance crusade. She returned to Canada and formed the second Canadian woman's temperance group, at Picton in Dec 1874. (A similar organization had formed in Owen Sound just previous to this.) Through her efforts, WCTU spread across the country and in 1885 a national WCTU was formed with Youmans as first president. She continued in this position until 1889 when she resigned owing to ill health. An invalid, she remained honorary president until her death. Her autobiography, Campaign Echoes, appeared in 1893.
Author WENDY L. MITCHINSON
See also TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.
