30:
287:, and the Women's Guild of the Amalgamated Carpenters, concern and suspicion grew amongst the inner circle of the party. The Women's Labour League was excluded from the Toronto Labour Council in 1927 during an anti-communist campaign, prompting Constance to comment that "The council is becoming altogether too conservative they may soon rue their action. Their leaders fear us because they have no control over us." In early 1929, Pro-Stalin CPC members targeted Custance, as her values were seen as more
275:, and as a public figure in Toronto labour circles, she is described as one historian as "one of the strongest intellectuals in the Party." In her role as editor and public speaker, she was able to put forward issues and stories of interest to working-class women, including: access to birth control, minimum wage abuse, wrongful dismissal, wafe theft, and the criminalization of poverty and mental illness. She also raised relief funds for striking Nova Scotia miners.
199:, Kent, England. One of six siblings, Florence's parents were John, an iron worker, and Ann Eliza Munn. Florence trained as a school teacher. She married George James Custance, a carpenter, in 1909. The couple emigrated to Canada shortly before World War I, most likely in 1910, settling in Toronto's East End. During this time she became a member of the
243:. She was elected to the Central Executive Committee of the CPC in 1923, and also served on the Canadian Labour Defense League. Local newspapers covered Constance's international travel and speaking engagements in Chicago, Germany, and Russia where she spoke at workers' conferences. She was also under surveillance by the RCMP throughout the 1920s.
319:
In 1925, Florence ran unsuccessfully for city council in Ward 8 (East
Toronto). When she attempted to run for school trustee in 1926, she was disqualified (along with another candidate, Mrs. Adelaide Blumptree) as they both were not listed on assessment rolls in their districts. In 1926 she ran on a
258:
Custance was active in organizing the Women's Guild of the
Amalgamated Carpenters of Canada, and later worked to found and nurture chapters of the Women's Labor League across Canada as part of her work for the CPC. She was secretary of the Federation of Women's Labour Leagues starting in 1921 until
291:
than communist. While she was not expelled from the party, scholars have noted that
Custance was pushed out of the inner circle, and was criticized internally by party members for harboring what was interpreted as reformist (rather than revolutionary) ideals. Pro-Stalin CPC members also distrusted
267:
had a broad readership that included working-class women, as well as women with a general interest in socialism and
Marxist ideas. Through the publication and her work as secretary of the Federation, she wielded considerable influence over the chapters, some argue more than the CPC leadership was
182:
was a trade unionist and labour organizer who helped found a number of socialist organizations in Canada, including a local Plebs League, the
Ontario Labour College, the Socialist Party of North America, and the Communist Party of Canada. She was heavily involved in cultivating chapters of the
320:
platform that would eliminate cadet training for working class youth in
Toronto schools. In both elections, candidates called her out as a communist, and newspaper editors characterized her as "untried" and "freakish".
791:
we are not
Malthusians, but we are fighting for the freedom of the women of the working-class homes. But birth control is a move to bring greater happiness and leisure to poor homes than is possible at
271:
In her role as secretary of the CPC and her roles on the
Toronto Labour Council, Constance was often a featured speaker at labour events in Toronto and across North America. As editor of
1143:
Mrs. Florence
Custance, Labor candidate for Ward 8, was termed a Communist by Trustee Reid, on account of what he termed her attempt to influence education with communisitic ideas.
246:
Custance was secretary and spokesperson for a relief fund which raised $ 100,000 for famine relief in Russia in 1921. She was the president of the
Canadian Friends of Soviet Union.
299:
Custance suffered declining health in the late 1920s. Suffering from physical exhaustion, she was ordered to three months rest in October 1928. She was removed as editor of
1077:
The voters in Ward Eight should just naturally vote for Dibble, Baker and Turner. The ward should make sure of Turner and take no chance with untried and freakish material.
1019:"Mrs. Florence Custance only woman candidate for the board of alderman. Mrs. Custance, who has been active in labor circles for many years was nominated in Ward 8 to-day".
1235:
303:
and from her role on the Canadian Labour Defense League in January 1929, with the publication citing an unspecified illness. In July 1929, she was admitted to
1110:"Four Aspirants are Nominated as Candidates for Mayoralty and Eleven for Control Board: Over Threescore Will Battle for 24 Aldermanic Seats on City Council".
779:"Communist Victory in Labor Elections May Disrupt Party: Railway Carmen Cannot Remain With Reds in Control, Their Chairman Says Smith Again President".
552:
263:, a monthly magazine aimed at Canadian women. Due in large part to her efforts, the number of league chapters had increased to 37 nationally in 1927.
1225:
1190:
424:
235:
Florence was one of the original founders of the Communist Party of Canada. She was also the only woman who attended the secret meeting in a
1230:
1174:
715:
530:"Says That Bishops Fought Communism: Mrs. Florence Custance, in Speech, Defends Execution of Vicar-General. Religion is Denounced".
211:
Florence was active in socialist circles in Toronto and Southern Ontario in the early decades of the twentieth century. Along with
484:
997:
For liberty, bread, and love: Annie Buller, Beckie Buhay, and the forging of communist militant femininity in Canada, 1918 – 1939
200:
85:
239:
farmhouse in 1921 that founded the party. She was secretary of the party's Women's Bureau for many years and also served on the
1240:
509:"Would Start Homes with Canadian Cash. Mrs. Florence Custance Raising Money to Help German Children. Through With Russians".
240:
1166:
304:
73:
227:. She also helped found the Ontario Labour College, where she taught courses on economics and economic geography.
224:
146:
117:
1162:
Filming Politics: Communism and the Portrayal of the Working Class at the National Film Board of Canada, 1939-46
1131:"Trustees Split Over Woman as Chairman. D. O. Ranking Leads Opposition to Plan Discussed at Jarvis Collegiate".
948:"Go Ahead Despite Ban Says Women's League. Exclusion by Trades Council Inspired by Fear, Leader Declares".
610:
349:
645:
Communism and the Canadian working class during the Great Depression the Workers' Unity League, 1930–1936
259:
her death in 1929 and also served as president of the Toronto Chapter. As part of her work, she launched
674:
393:
1220:
1215:
1195:
1089:"Labor Candidates for Civic Honors: Trade Unionists, Communists and Unemployed Put Up as "Timber"".
308:
293:
455:
Surveillance of Canadian Communists: A case study of Toronto RCMP intelligence networks, 1920–1939
887:
867:
859:
760:
710:. Canadian Committee on Labour History. St. John's, Nfld.: Canadian Committee on Labour History.
579:
532:
511:
29:
1170:
851:
804:"Agree with Rabbi on Birth Control. Dr. Hastings and Others Point to Arguments in its Favor".
721:
711:
461:(Thesis). Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador, CA: Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada)
670:
Little histories: Modernist and leftist women poets and magazine editors in Canada, 1926–1956
843:
220:
212:
643:
453:
216:
99:
375:
1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census. Kent. Dartford. Holy Trinity. RG 13/703 pg. 34
1200:
1160:
1112:
1091:
972:
Reds in Beds: The Communist Party of Canada and the Politics of Reproduction, 1920–1970
781:
95:
970:
1209:
283:
As Constance's power and influence grew through her work with Women's Labour League,
871:
183:
Women's Labour League across Canada and edited the federation's monthly periodical,
1133:
1067:
1021:
950:
929:
908:
806:
678:
485:""A Very Good Barn in Guelph" – The Founding of the Communist Party of Canada"
855:
668:
725:
577:"Florence Custance: Communist and Labor Leader in Canada Dies at Toronto".
354:(Thesis). Canada – Ontario, CA: The University of Western Ontario (Canada)
1138:
1117:
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955:
934:
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288:
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54:
863:
831:
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236:
995:
648:(Thesis). Canada – Nova Scotia, CA: Dalhousie University (Canada)
401:(Thesis). Canada – Nova Scotia, CA: Dalhousie University (Canada)
296:. She was removed from the Central Executive Committee in 1929.
906:
Custance, Florence (17 April 1926). "More "Law" Than Charity".
307:, where she died a week later, the death certificate noting
673:(Thesis). Canada – Quebec, CA: McGill University (Canada).
1137:. 15 December 1926. p. 20. 1436991582 – via
1116:. 22 December 1926. p. 13. 1354635420 – via
1040:
1025:. 20 December 1924. p. 20. 1436790773 – via
832:"The Communist Party and the Woman Question, 1922–1929"
553:"In the Canadian Archives on Security and Intelligence"
1095:. 2 December 1924. p. 11. 1356668209 – via
1071:. 31 December 1924. p. 2. 1437133709 – via
954:. 5 November 1927. p. 15. 1437273959 – via
933:. 15 December 1926. p. 5. 1437142716 – via
785:. 26 April 1926. pp. 1–2. 1435761418 – via
395:
Outside looking in: A study of Canadian fringe parties
891:. 6 December 1924. p. 16. 08393680 – via
611:"Women's Labour Leagues | The Canadian Encyclopedia"
536:. 23 April 1923. p. 14. 1351867534 – via
187:, which ran from 1926 through to her death in 1929.
583:. 14 July 1929. pp. N5. 104726922 – via
160:
152:
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91:
81:
62:
36:
20:
1196:Report on the 1924 Convention by Florence Custance
764:. 8 March 1921. p. 7. 1366246559 – via
515:. 9 June 1924. p. 11. 1351867534 – via
425:"Canada's Revolutionary Elders: Florence Custance"
351:A. E. Smith and the Canadian Labour Defense League
1191:Canada’s Revolutionary Elders: Florence Custance
195:Florence Ada Ives was born 31 December 1881, in
128:Founding member of the Communist Party of Canada
1065:"Aldermanic Candidates Recommended in Ward 8".
758:"Mrs. Florence Custance Addresses Carpenters".
219:, Custance helped found and operated a local
8:
743:. 18 September 1926. p. 3 – via
1000:(Thesis). Simon Fraser University (Canada)
28:
17:
1236:Members of the Communist Party of Canada
810:. 29 April 1929. p. 1 – via
329:
704:Margaret Hobbs; Joan Sangster (1999).
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120:, Socialist Party of North America
14:
1041:"1925 Toronto municipal election"
739:"Defence League Meeting Sunday".
201:Socialist Party of North America
86:Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
423:Hopwood, Bill (22 April 2021).
1226:Canadian women trade unionists
969:Beswick, Lorne (7 July 2017).
615:www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
429:Socialist Alternative (Canada)
392:Allen, Myrna Jeannine (1997).
241:Canadian Labour Defense League
1:
741:Daily World (Montreal Quebec)
292:Constance's association with
994:Toews, Anne Frances (2009).
348:PETRYSHYN, JAROSLAV (1977).
138:The Woman Worker (1926–1929)
1231:British emigrants to Canada
1201:The Women Worker, 1926–1929
1167:University of Calgary Press
707:The woman worker, 1926–1929
551:Kealey, Gregory S. (1995).
74:Toronto Grace Health Centre
1257:
927:"Appeal for Assistance".
667:Irvine, Dean Jay (2001).
492:Wellington County History
483:Easterbrook, Ian (1995).
250:Womens Labour League and
231:Communist Party of Canada
225:Communist Party of Canada
147:Communist Party of Canada
118:Communist Party of Canada
27:
885:"Hear Different Story".
170:Anne Eliza Munn (mother)
830:Sangster, Joan (1985).
311:as the cause of death.
1241:Activists from Toronto
1159:Khouri, Malek (2007).
452:Butt, Michael (2003).
642:Manley, John (1984).
268:ever able to assert.
223:, a precursor to the
180:Florence Ada Custance
279:Later life and death
836:Labour / Le Travail
294:Alexandra Kollantai
888:The Globe and Mail
761:The Globe and Mail
580:The New York Times
533:The Globe and Mail
512:The Globe and Mail
315:Electoral politics
167:John Ives (father)
98:, writer, editor,
207:Labour organizing
177:
176:
106:Years active
41:Florence Ada Ives
22:Florence Custance
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100:union organizer
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134:Notable work
82:Burial place
68:(1929-07-12)
66:12 July 1929
15:
1221:1929 deaths
1216:1881 births
1153:Works cited
1051:30 December
1004:24 December
979:24 December
684:23 December
652:23 December
620:30 December
598:Khouri 2007
566:(1): 26–38.
465:23 December
434:30 December
405:23 December
358:23 December
254:(1926–1929)
1210:Categories
324:References
191:Early life
47:1881-12-31
856:0700-3862
842:: 24–56.
679:304767995
109:1919–1929
76:, Toronto
1139:ProQuest
1118:ProQuest
1097:ProQuest
1073:ProQuest
1027:ProQuest
975:(Thesis)
956:ProQuest
935:ProQuest
914:ProQuest
893:ProQuest
872:55008203
864:25140552
812:ProQuest
792:present.
787:ProQuest
766:ProQuest
745:ProQuest
726:42138260
675:ProQuest
585:ProQuest
538:ProQuest
517:ProQuest
498:: 20–34.
289:feminist
197:Dartford
55:Dartford
161:Parents
1173:
870:
862:
854:
724:
714:
677:
237:Guelph
153:Spouse
868:S2CID
860:JSTOR
556:(PDF)
488:(PDF)
459:(PDF)
399:(PDF)
1171:ISBN
1053:2022
1006:2022
981:2022
852:ISSN
722:OCLC
712:ISBN
686:2022
654:2022
622:2022
467:2022
436:2022
407:2022
360:2022
63:Died
37:Born
844:doi
1212::
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1165:.
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1075:.
1043:,
866:.
858:.
850:.
840:15
838:.
834:.
820:^
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