Renee Chipman (nee Haweis) was born in London, England in 1903 to parents Lionel Haweis and Lucy Sara DeVengette. She came to Canada with her parents at the age of three, first to New Westminster and later moving to Vancouver. Following various volunteer activities associated with the World War II effort, Renee Haweis joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC). By November 1941 she had become a commissioned officer. In July 1942 she opened and was named the first commandant of the first Western Canadian CWAC Training Centre at Vermillion, Alberta. For her war efforts Haweis was awarded the honor of Member of the British Empire in 1943. later that year she married William Wainwright Chipman. After the death of her husband in the late 1950s Renee Chipman moved to Los Angeles where she worked for the U.S. Defense Department. While there she met Margaret "Ma" Murray who convinced her to edit the "Bridge River-Lillooet News" in Lillooet, B.C. Keenly interested in history, Chipman was credited as being the driving force behind the creation of the Lillooet Museum of which she became a curator until her death in 1986.
From the description of Renee Chipman fonds. 1910-1982. (University of British Columbia Library). WorldCat record id: 606456661
