CFUW Stratford

Welcome to the CFUW Stratford web site.

As a member of the Canadian Federation of University Women, CFUW Stratford is a non-profit organization of women graduates working to promote lifelong education, to improve the status of women and girls and to enable women to effect positive change for a peaceful, sustainable future.

You are welcome to explore our site and discover what we are all about:

• At the top of this page, you will see a number of different tabs that will take you to various pages on the site.

• You will also find some useful links on the right-hand side of the page that will take you directly to some of our interest groups or our affiliate sites or you can subscribe to an email update and we will send you an email whenever something on the site is updated.

• If you scroll down this page you will see our regular news posts and discover the latest happenings at CFUW Stratford.

Feel free to get a cup of tea and come in to see what we’ve been doing.

Updates from the Hill – October Edition

CFUW was represented at:

The Governor General’s Persons Awards – October 1: at Government House where two CFUW members received the Person’s Awards. Lawyer and activist Daphne Dumont, nominated by CFUW Charlottetown and from Manitoba, Mary Scott – of UWC Winnipeg received the award.

The Will to Intervene: at the project launch for the “Will to Intervene (W2I) Project”. The report entitled Mobilizing the Will to Intervene: Leadership and Action to Prevent Mass Atrocities” was made public by Senator Hugh Segal, Ed Broadbent and Mr Robert Fowler. General Romeo Dallaire was one of the speakers at the event.

• CFUW statement in support of the general principles of intervention in humanitarian cases to prevent mass atrocities.

UN Resolution 1325: October 21: CFUW (the Executive Director) and its working partner Peacebuild met with Mme Francine Lalonde and Mme Joanne Deschamps to discuss UN Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security. We have been meeting with every member of the Foreign Affairs Committee to bring their attention to this issue. We are calling for a report on what has been done. These women heard us and they have offered to bring this to their party convention to place it on the party agenda.
- August: the NDP Party: Youth Group brought a resolution to the floor on UN Resolution 1325 and it was adopted at the NDP Convention.

Attended the Person’s Week launch of the Liberal Party of Canada “Pink Book, Volume III: An Action Plan for Canadian Women”.

Received the NDP Fairness for Women Action Plan – view at http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/node/944

Other
Gun Control: Wrote to the Government in support of gun control. CFUW encourages Clubs to be involved in this important issue.

Produced a Gun Control Kit to be circulated to targeted areas where it is particularly important for the MP to hear from CFUW members. The NDP member from the Nickle Belt, Sudbury
needs to hear from you and could be persuaded if you contact him

A postcard campaign: We need your help to get postcards to your local MP – order through cfuwadvocacy@rogers.com .

Climate Change Kit: working with a Club member CFUW will send out its Climate Change Kit next week – in both official languages. Earmark this for immediate action.

Wrote to Senators expressing CFUW support for the reform of Canada’s Access to Medicine Regime (CAMR).

Position Paper on Bill C-422, An Act to Amend the Divorce Act

Updates from the Hill – September Edition

September 2009

• May 26, 2009: CFUW Executive Director Susan Russell testified before the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and the Status of Persons with Disabilities on the federal contribution to reducing poverty – specifically how gender affects income in Canada.

• And on June 4, 2009: CFUW Executive Director testified before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, on behalf of CFUW and of the National Association of Women and the Law with regard to the need for pay equity for women.

• Partnering: June 9, 2009: the CFUW, Peacebuild OXFAM working group met with MP Bernard Patry (Liberal Vice Chair Foreign Affairs Committee) to discuss the importance of United Nations Resolution 1325(women, peace and security) and 1820 (sexual violence as a weapon of war) in the peace process and in post conflict situations. Mr. Patry had not heard much about this prior to our meeting and suggested that we keep in touch in the coming months.

• June 19: and the team met with MP Lois Brown (Conservative) of the Foreign Affairs Committee to brief her on UN Resolution 1325 and 1820. Excellent meeting and promise of support.

• Friday September 4: Met with Mr Bob Rae (Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic) about UN Resolutions 1325 and 1820 support for this issue in Committee.

• August 31 – Kyoto Plus is holding a series of conference calls preparing for the Climate Change agenda throughout the fall. CFUW is monitoring this.

• September 1: All Party Parliamentary Group on the Prevention of Genocide: media approaches (report available) – met in the House

• September 3 and 17: Working with the Ad Hoc Coalition for Women’s Equality and Human Rights, on its Election Preparedness Working Group. Updating and editing.

• September 9: CFUW ED met with the ED from the Human Rights Commission on to discuss how we might work together on shared interests. Expressed interest in CFUW’s stand on pay equity and in our foreign affairs (Resolutions 1325 and 1820) – interest in working with CFUW of the Indian Act repeal of Section 67 (matrimonial rights).

• September 15: The ED testified before the Parliamentary Committee on Finance for the pre-budget consultation, choosing three topics for a five minute presentation. (Pay equity, child care and employment insurance). The Tories challenged CFUW to define costs for a real universal child care.

• September 15: Prepared and sent out the Brief on Resolutions for CFUW Clubs with sample letters.

• October 1: All Party Working Group on the Prevention of Genocide – meeting on Child Soldiers.

Letters sent on:

• Language at Department of Foreign Affairs;
• UN Resolution 1325;
• Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR).

News from CFUW National

Click on the image below to see the latest CFUW National news.

 

CFUW National Newsletter

Brenda Wallace – Candidate Poster

Brenda Wallace

Click on the image to download a PDF of this poster.

Marylea Burtt – Candidate Poster

Marylea Burtt

Click on the image to download a PDF of this poster.

Week in Review – October 23, 2009



Canadian Politics

• On Wednesday, Liberal and Conservative MPs voted to provide 30 more days to the Environment Committee to study of Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. The Bill commits Canada to greenhouse gas reduction targets and holds the government publically accountable for concrete action. This dashes any hopes of bringing a sound plan to the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

American Politics

• The House Speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi put the pressure on wavering Democrats Friday morning, calling on them to state in front of their colleagues where they stand on the public option for health care reform.
• The Senate voted Thursday to extend new federal protections to people who are victims of violent crime because of their sex or sexual orientation, this legislation extends federal safeguards already afforded to people who are victims of violent crimes because of their race, color, religion or national origin.
• A top Senate Democrat is now calling for Sen. Hiram Monserrate to resign his seat following his conviction on a misdemeanor charge for assaulting his girlfriend.

Reproductive Choice

• The fight to legalize abortion in Peru moved forward this week as a legislative panel approved a bill proposing legalizing abortion in cases of rape, incest or fetal deformity has been sent to the Congress for debate.
• Enforcement of an Oklahoma law that will publicize an unprecedented amount of personal information about women who undergo abortions has been delayed by at least one month, to Dec. 4, as part of a legal challenge.

Gendered Violence

• Watch for the CanWest News Service special editorial 4 part series on Missing Women, starting Saturday October 24. Additionally a series on the reality of the human trafficking of Aboriginal women into the sex-trade will be featured in the Toronto Sun.

Economic Crisis

• This week ex-Nortel workers protested on Parliament Hill asking for pension protection reforms. With many company pension plans across the country underfunded, workers could easily see their pensions and other benefits reduced dramatically or disappear if their employer closes the doors for good.

International

• Kuwait’s constitutional court has granted women the right to obtain their own passports without the consent of their husbands and guardians.
• Two of the world’s biggest polluters, India and China, have signed an agreement to work together on addressing climate change.
• Guinea’s military junta, who has allegedly raped protesters, is facing the prospect of an arms embargo imposed by the European Union.
• A photography exhibit is touring the United States, displaying images of women from the Democratic Republic of Congo who have suffered rape and violence on a widespread basis during the 11-year-long, multi-party conflict between government troops, rebels and bandits drawn to the country’s commercial mining opportunities.
• Two Sudanese women arrested in July were sentenced to 20 lashes and a $100 fine by a court Oct. 22 for wearing ‘indecent’ clothing, which included trousers.
• This article discusses the impact the Honduran coup has had on the country’s women.
• In Kenya, women leaders from 36 political parties resolved to work together and advocate a change of the electoral system in the on- going constitutional review.
• The United Nations human rights chief today welcomed a new treaty to protect and assist those uprooted from their homes due to conflict and natural disasters in Africa, which accounts for nearly half of the world’s 26 million internally displaced persons.

A Service of CFUW National Office
Questions/Comments? cfuwadvocacy@rogers.com

September Meet and Greet Review

Canadian Federation of University Women to Host Illustrated Lecture Series in November

The Canadian Federation of University Women held their annual open house on September 22, 2009 at the Meeting Room of Romeo Court.  President Marg Smith welcomed all members and guests to the Meet and Greet.  She directed the attendees to visit CFUW-Stratford’s website at www.cfuwstratford.org to learn more about our club, the provincial and national levels of CFUW and to generally read about women’s issues.  As part of our local action and advocacy, CFUW provides scholarship prizes in science and French to young women graduating from our three Stratford secondary schools.  A fundraising series will be held in November to raise money for this worthwhile endeavor.

The annual Arts and Gardens series will feature Artist, Historian and World traveler Cynthia Venables : Ms. Adventures in Sicily!

• Travel back in time – see art and architecture; enjoy gardens and landscape, savour food and wine.
• Travel on foot and by car, cable car and sometimes even pony cart.
• Travel the entire Island and experience Cynthia’s adventures – and misadventures!

Highlights include: Messina, Taoromina, Mt. Etna, Agrigento, Segesta, Piazza Armerina, Erice, Palermo and Cefalu – with plenty of time for questions and discussion .  The series will run on Friday afternoons in November commencing at 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kiwanis Centre on Lakeside Drive.

The series of 4 tickets (November 6, 13, 20 and 27) are only $40 if purchased before November 2^nd, and $48 thereafter.  Individual lecture tickets will be available for $15 at the door.  Contact Audrey Stares, Connie Stewart, or visit Blowes Stationery in downtown Stratford for tickets.

Member Pat Reavy introduced our guest speaker for the evening: Teri Shaw who is the CFUW-Ontario Council Advocacy Coordinator.

Being trained as a librarian with an undergraduate degree in political science, Teri Shaw naturally gravitated to the public policy arm of CFUW, and to resolutions, the basis for any policy work we might do.  Teri has been involved in advocacy for some time and is currently the CFUW-National Director of Resolutions. As CFUW-Ontario Council Advocacy Coordinator, she frequently interfaces with the Ontario government regarding CFUW policy. Teri presented Stratford Club member Sheila Clarke with an Advocacy Award for her work on our cosmetic pesticide resolution.

Teri explained CFUW-Ontario Council’s role with regards to Sharia Law in Ontario. It started with the Arbitration Act (1991) which allowed faith based arbitration to settle certain matters in Family Law in the Province of Ontario. All faiths including Roman Catholic, Jewish, Mennonite and Muslim, could use religious beliefs to settle court disputes. The decisions made in these religious courts would be binding and upheld by the Ontario Legal System.  As both parties in a dispute had to agree to this religious arbitration, it seemed that this system was fair and equitable.  However with Islamic Sharia law, there are different interpretations, some of which are clearly discriminatory against women with regards to child custody and division of assets in divorce settlements and inheritance settlements. There was great concern that the Arbitration Act was overruling our national Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

CFUW-Ontario Council along with various other women’s groups formed the “No Religious Arbitration Coalition” and working very diligently, was able to put pressure on the Ontario Premier to pass Bill 27- the Family Statute Law Amendment Act (2006) that effectively stopped all religious arbitration in Ontario.  In order to allow all women to know their legal rights, FLEW was created (Family Law Education for Women). This organization helped to create an “All Women: One Family Law” package that is a collection of 12 booklets, written in 11 languages, that deal with topics such as Marriage and Divorce, Division of Property, Child Support etc. CFUW is ensuring that these booklets are available and accessible to women. CFUW Stratford President Marg Smith thanked Teri Shaw for helping us understand the work done by CFUW-Ontario Council.

Stacey Pegg Wilson (2nd Vice President)gave a report on the 19 interest groups that are currently running within the club, including several book clubs, gourmet groups and bridge club.  Special mention was made that the “Advocacy” group is an online group.  Pat Reavy spoke about the “Romeo School” group which needs our help for an afterschool homework club.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm with an invitation to remain and visit.

The next meeting of CFUW-Stratford Club will be on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 7:30 pm at Central United Church, Stratford.

Week in Review – October 16, 2009

Canadian Politics

• This week the Famous Five: Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby were announced as honorary senators for their work on the 1929 landmark court ruling that recognized women as persons and allowed them to sit in the appointed Senate.
• The truth and reconciliation commission, created to delve into the dark history of Indian residential schools in Canada, plans to make Winnipeg the first stop on a cross-country, five-year journey. The commission would also hold national events in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, northern Canada, Quebec and the Maritimes; the event in Winnipeg is scheduled for sometime next spring.

American Politics

• The Senate finance committee passed the health reform bill, approving an $829 billion plan projected to extend coverage to an additional 29 million Americans. The reform bill must pass several other committees before it can be voted on.
• This week Hilary Clinton wrote an Op-Ed discussing world food security. Click here to read.

Reproductive Choice

• A report released this week by the Guttmacher Institute found that increases in global contraceptive use have contributed to a decrease in the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions. However the report also found that unsafe abortion practices cause an estimated 70,000 deaths each year. The full report can be found here.
• Dick Gamble a champion of women’s reproductive choice has passed away.

Gendered Violence

• Prosecutors are investigating accusations that two former state employees at the Oklahoma governor’s mansion raped three female prison inmates assigned to work on the mansion’s grounds.
• Esgenoopetitj First Nation held its first Take Back the Night March. Take Back the Night, a march intended as a protest and direct action against rape and other forms of violence against women began in 1976. For the women and men marching, their thoughts were 16-year-old Hilary Bonnell, who has missing from their community for more than a month.

Economic Crisis

• This article profiles a 97 year old American woman who is homeless and lives in a 1973 Suburban with her two sons, ages 60 and 62. Both sons cannot work due to injuries and disabilities.

International

• October is Breast Cancer awareness month. This article questions the motives for pink advertising and finds out where all the money from “Pink” products actually goes to, urging those who want to support the cause to be careful where they spend their money.
• Today the Human Rights Council strongly condemned a host of Israeli measures in the occupied Palestinian territory and called on both sides to implement the recommendations of a United Nations commission. The commission found evidence that Israel and the Palestinians committed serious war crimes in the three-week Gaza war nine months ago.
• A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.
• This week the Alberta Human Rights Commission has accepted a complaint made against a local Catholic school board by a substitute teacher who says he was dismissed from teaching for changing his gender.
• The International Court has announced it will investigate the killing of nearly 160 protesters in Guinea, allegedly by government troops.
• Elinor Ostrom becomes the first woman to win Nobel Prize for Economics in its 40-year history. Ostrom’s work shows that local communities often manage common resources — such as woods, lakes and fish stocks — better on their own than when outside authorities impose rules.

A Service of CFUW National Office
Questions/Comments? cfuwadvocacy@rogers.com

Candidates for Upcoming CFUW National President Election

Marylea Burtt and Brenda Wallace are our candidates for National President this year.  You can view their endorsements by clicking on their names below.

Marylea Burtt
Brenda Wallace

Call for Workshops

From: CFUW National Office on behalf of IFUW, Co-ordinator for International Relations
Date: October 13, 2009
Topic: Call for Workshops and IFUW News October 2009

Memo:

Here is the Call for IFUW Workshops for the IFUW Triennial Meeting in Mexico City August 2010.  Please circulate in your Clubs in case members are interested in presenting a workshop and should you be planning to do so – follow the instructions provided on the IFUW website.

You will hear more about the planned meeting in Mexico City as the information becomes available.

Also included is information about the new UN Resolution 1888 – which will complement the two UN Resolutions that CFUW is already advocating for (1325 – about women, peace and security and 1820 – about the use of rape as a weapon of war).  As sectarian tensions continue in the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere, measures that help to protect women and their children are very important.

It is not too soon to start to plan for next year’s AGM in Ottawa and to think about whether you will also want to attend the IFUW Triennial Meeting in Mexico City.

Susan A.C.Russell, Executive Director
Canadian Federation of University Women
251 Bank Street, Suite 305, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1X3
Phone: 613 234 8252
Url: www.cfuw.org email: cfuw1@rogers.com

The call for workshops document is here.