Empowering women through advocacy and education.

For just $0.75/member, Ontario Council provides each club with Commercial General Liability coverage for your club and its events. Check out information on our website-all your quests answered, including how to obtain a copy of the Generic Insurance form.

In 2025, CFUW Owen Sound and Area's resolution to establish an independent Seniors' Advocate in Ontario passed at the OC AGM. The same year, the United Senior Citizens of Ontario (USCO) passed the same proposal. 

CFUW Owen Sound and USCO are looking for other organizations to join this movement to get an independent Seniors’ Advocate for Ontario.

GOAL: Get the Ontario government to fund an independent Seniors' Advocate who reports to all elected politicians and the public and does not work for the government.

What is an Independent Seniors’ Advocate

An independent Seniors' Advocate for Ontario would be an officer of the legislature, reporting to all elected politicians and the public — independent of the government of the day — who would be able to:

• Take complaints about services for seniors and follow up those complaints

• Review programs affecting older adults (health care, housing, transportation, etc.)

• Give ideas for making services better for seniors and keep track of the government’s answers to those ideas

• Give seniors a direct, independent voice in government decision-making

Find the full outline of CFUW Ontario Council's 2023 Resolution HERE

Find the Template letter for individuals and clubs HERE

Find the Owen Sound Poster HERE

As the Ontario municipal elections approach, it’s time to focus on the level of government that directly shapes our everyday lives.

While federal and provincial politics often capture the headlines, local government makes the decisions that touch our homes and neighborhoods immediately, from public transit, affordable housing, and childcare services to local shelter supports, community safety, public health, and climate action. The issues that matter most to our families and communities are determined

locally.

That is precisely why voting in municipal elections is critical, and why CFUW members have a key role to play in getting both the message and voters out.

Local Advocacy Starts at Home: CFUW’s mission to advance gender equality, social justice, and education depends heavily on local implementation. When we advocate for accessible spaces, strong community services, and equitable policy frameworks, municipal councils are our primary partners and sometimes our biggest hurdles. Voting ensures we elect leaders who share a vision for inclusive, equitable communities.

Resources to Mobilize Your Community: CFUW Ontario Council encourages all Clubs to foster civic engagement in their local areas. To assist you in bringing non-partisan dialogue to your community, procedures and step-by-step toolkits for hosting All Candidates Meetings are available directly on the Ontario Council website. Hosting a meeting is one of the most effective ways to highlight key social issues and ask candidates where they stand on equity and community needs.

Supporting Women Candidates and Rejecting Aggression: Women remain underrepresented in local government. Running for municipal office takes immense courage, dedication, and effort. We must support women who put their names forward, whether that means casting your vote for them, volunteering on their campaign, helping distribute literature, or simply amplifying their message.

Equally important is protecting the democratic space for women leaders. Female candidates across Ontario face an alarming rise in online and in-person harassment, intimidation, and hostility. We cannot remain silent spectators to political aggression. Calling out toxicity and refusing to condone abuse directed at candidates is essential to keeping civic life safe, fair, and welcoming for women.

Take Action

• Check your voter registration and confirm your local polling location.

• Visit the CFUW Ontario Council website to access resources for running an All Candidates Meeting.

• Get involved in a campaign or offer encouragement and practical support to women running locally.

• Speak up against harassment and aggression whenever you see it.

Democracy is built from the ground up. Let’s lead the change in our communities by making our voices, and our votes, count.

Education in Ontario remains in a flux with funding issues resulting in classrooms short in teachers, support workers, supplies and cuts to programs that lead to success in school. We need to continue to put pressure on this government to make quality education for all students a priority.

OSAP remains an important issue in post-secondary education. Although students are now living with this reality we still need to advocate on their behalf to make post-secondary education financially accessible for all students and their families.

Over the past few years, I have become very interested in School Food Programs. Since the commitment from the Federal Government to create Canada’s School Food Program to provide $1 billion over 5 years in schools across the country, to reduce hunger and improve health and learning outcomes, many organizations are committed to bring healthy food to Ontario schools. Unfortunately, Ontario remains near the bottom in the financial support they provide for School Food programs compared to other provinces.

During the summer I was pleased to be part of a School Food Summer Learning Lab at Lakehead University in Orillia in partnership with the Ontario Coalition for School Food and the Sharing Place Food Centre. It was a learning experience in the gardens, kitchen and classrooms. to connect food, education and health. Our conversations pointed towards the need for nutritious food in schools, and the on-going need for food literacy activities to address the increasing levels of food insecurity in our communities and strengthen equitable school food programs.

I have just outlined a few issues in Ontario Education. I will continue to advocate for all these issues. Our youth deserve to feel safe, supported and encouraged in their quest for a good start in life. Children who are in school and have nutritious food available are more likely to stay in school and learn.

I look forward to working with all Ontario Council CFUW Clubs and I always welcome your input and interest.

Kind regards,

Wendy Taylor

CFUW Ontario Council Education Chair

All-candidates meetings are one of the best things a CFUW club can offer during an election — a chance for your community to meet the people running for office, ask real questions, and make an informed choice. This guide walks you through everything you need, from your first planning meeting to your thank-you notes

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This federal statutory holiday was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament. The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Among the various visual elements illustrating Indigenous cultures, the circle is at the centre, which represents being together in spirit of reconciliation. The orange colour represents truth-telling and healing. The pathway represents the road to reconciliation.

The eagle represents First Nations. The narwal represents Inuit. The beaded flower represents Metis. https://www.canada.ca/en.html

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

Commemorating this day to honour Survivors and increase understanding of the history and legacy of Residential Schools is one step in a long journey towards truth-telling and meaningful reconciliation. 

The Learn and Reflect section of this Ontario webpage  has links to further information and support.

Kathy Wosnick

Advocacy Chair