History

35th Anniversary Memory Booklet

Mabel’s 35th Anniversary sub-committee researched old archives and interviewed league alumni to put together an overview of the roots of the Mabel League in Vancouver in 1990, with sections about Commercial Drive, the Out Games, and more!

Click here for a list of references.

View the booklet

Timeline

1980's

East Van roots

“Back in the late ’80s, Joanne Beatty and some friends would get together at Britannia secondary school’s gravel baseball diamond to play softball and drink beer, often at the same time. Although Beatty played in a competitive softball league in Richmond, she also found time for more informal games with other members of the lesbian community. ‘It was drinking beer and having fun,’ Beatty says of those East Side pickup games. ‘After a while, we started to think that we had enough women for a league.'”

~ from Georgia Straight’s article “It’s how you play the game” August 1, 2007

1980's

1990

Mabel is born

“…a few of them decided to form a league and hammered out rules, a schedule, and a constitution. They named the league after Pam Brown, a woman in the leagues [sic] whose nickname is Mabel.

The Mabel League formally came into existence in 1990. In its early days, the league consisted of a handful of teams of wildly varying skill levels.”

~ from Georgia Straight’s article “It’s how you play the game” August 1, 2007

1990

2001

“You Wish” logo

2001

2008-09

Mabel’s Monthly Eco-Challenge

This year the Executive initiated a monthly challenge called ‘Mabel’s Monthly Eco-Challenge’ to each of the teams (and players) to reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive impact on climate change. These challenges includes monthly tasks such as only using reusable/cloth bags for shopping, recycling, using reusable cups/mugs,
carpooling and more.

2008-09

2010

It Gets Better video

The It Gets Better Project was started in September 2010 by columnist Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller. The Mabel League created their own video as part of the movement to show their support and solidarity with the It Gets Better message: to offer
hope and support directly to LGBTQ+ youth by showing them that life improves as they grow older, find community, and gain independence.

2010

2011

Mabel Minor

Mabel League hosted “Mabel Minor” a youth softball clinic. The inspiration: creating a safe space for queer youth, allies, and families to explore and engage with sport, being active, and the community that is created in queer, safe spaces!

2011

2012

Donation to South African team

Mabel League donated $2000 to Chosen Few Football Club in South Africa. A lesbian football team that exists to create visibility based on threats to safety etc. in that country.

2012

2012

Rainbow logo

2012

2013

“Our Team” logo

2013

2015

Mabel logo

2015

2024

Mabel logo revised

2024
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