Common Woman Books

[3] The bookstore was a hub of activity centered on the desire for social change, and they had a bulletin board full of information, readings and signings, concerts, guest speakers, film festivals, etc.

[4] Common Woman Books was founded in 1978 by Julie Anne LeGras, Mair Smith, and Halyna Chomiak Freeland in response to a perceived need to make feminist literature available to Alberta women.

[4][5] Founder Halyna Freeland was a lawyer, activist, teacher, community organizer, cooperative housing pioneer, politician, student, single mother, and art collector.

[7] The bookstore moved a third time, back to Old Strathcona on Whyte Ave and 106th Street, but by then was competing against many other stores that carried feminist and lesbian books.

And it was really great that there were these more quiet spaces to socialize.”[8] An advertisement for the bookstore is included in a 1984 Womonspace newsletter, describing it as “Alberta’s Only Feminist Bookstore” and selling non-sexist children’s books, records, jewelry, t-shirts, fiction, feminist theory, overcoming male and female stereotypes, and a good selection of lesbian literature.