Fonds F0335 - Calgary Birth Control Association fonds

In 1969 the Canadian Criminal Code was amended to make abortion legal if the continuation of a pregnancy endangered the health of the mother. Frustrated by the lack of mechanisms in place to facilitate obtaining abortions, in November 1970 about a dozen Calgary, Alberta women established the Calgary Abortion Information Centre. In June 1971 the Centre and an inactive Planned Parenthood group amalgamated to form the Calgary Birth Control Association. At first there was a small staff and numerous volunteers but by the early 1980s the paid staff had grown to six. Throughout the late 1970s and the 1980s the group was dogged by controversy over its grant from the City and the United Way. By the 1990s the scope of its services had expanded and it began using the name CBCA Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Centre. The name was later changed to the Calgary Sexual Health Centre.