Conductorettes: The First Women to Drive Transit, Podcast Ep. 31
In this episode we tell the story of the “conductorettes” – the women who worked as streetcar conductors in Vancouver during World War II when many men were overseas fighting fascism. The conductorettes were part of a strong union: the Amalgamated Transit Union, which ensured they had the same rights, privileges, and wages as the men. In this episode of On The Line, we highlight the important contributions these women made to keeping the city’s transit system running during a critical time, and how their experiences shed light on the changing role of women in the workforce during the war years.
Publication date: May 20, 2025
Podcast length: 29:37
Hosted by: Rod Mickleburgh
Research and writing by: Patricia Wejr and Rod Mickleburgh
Production by: John Mabbott
With special thanks to: The Buzzer Blog
The union played an important role in supporting the women, including helping one get her job back after she was fired for becoming pregnant.
Featured are interviews with three former conductorettes – Pearl Wattum, Vilma Westerholm, and Edra McLeod – who describe their experiences on the job, including the challenges they faced, such as dealing with unruly passengers and the close supervision by company supervisors.
The podcast also provides historical context on the streetcar system in Vancouver, the role of unions, and the transition to buses and trolleybuses that eventually replaced the streetcars.