

ADVOCACY / COMMUNITY / EDUCATION
Empowering women through advocacy and education.
The CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) Ontario Council represents 48 member clubs with 4,700 members across the province, providing lifelong learning, influencing public policy, and advocating for gender equality.

48
CLUBS ACROSS ONTARIO
6
ACTIVE ISSUE CAMPAIGNS
100+
YEARS OF IMPACT
$500,000
SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED PER YEAR
OUR MISSION
From Local Clubs
to Legislative Change
We believe that women's voices must shape public policy. Through 48 clubs, speaker series, resolutions, and direct government correspondence, CFUW Ontario Council turns community insight into systemic change.
Gender Equality
Fighting for equal rights and opportunities for all women, including those who identify as women, and girls
Lifelong Learning
Education as the cornerstone of empowerment and advocacy
Community Power
48 clubs uniting thousands of women across Ontario
Environmental Justice
Protecting Ontario's natural heritage for future generations
ADVOCACY
The Causes We Champion
Critical issue areas where CFUW Ontario Council is driving legislative action right now.

Eliminating Intimate Partner Violence in Ontario

Protect Student Access to OSAP

Close the PostPartum Depression Care Gap

Protecting Ontario's Vulnerable

Ontario Council turns community insight into systemic change — one letter, one resolution, one bill at a time.
SANDRA SHAW, PRESIDENT, CFUW ONTARIO COUNCIL
LATEST UPDATES
News & Updates
Latest updates from our organization and Ontario's 48 clubs!

Leading Change through Legislation-Speaker Series #1
Ever written to your MPP and wondered what happened next?
On October 24, two sitting MPPs and a veteran lobbyist will tell us — plainly — how an issue travels from a constituent's concern to a bill on the order paper, and where advocacy actually lands.
If your club is building an advocacy plan this year, this one is for you.
Speaker Series #1: Leading Change Through Legislation
Saturday, October 24 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET | Zoom
Learn more and register: https://www.cfuwontcouncil.org/speaker-series-1

October 15, 2026
Managing the Information Overload
Managing the volume of information coming from CFUW National, Ontario Council, and local Club communications can quickly lead to information overload for executive members and general members who subscribe alike.
Most subscribers actually like to read through the newsletters. But it is important to have a standardised way to get the information out to all Club members, whether they receive the newsletters or not. Additionally, time sensitive material needs to be forwarded to the appropriate person for action....

October 15, 2026
CFUW’s Defence of Democracy and The Politics of Rage
While supporting my home Club through an All Candidates Meeting (ACM), the Club President and I came face to face with the Politics of Rage (the use of anger and resentment as a political tool to mobilize support and influence public opinion. This approach often exploits societal divisions and grievances.).
The Club President was subjected to threatening emails and defamatory statements by candidates and their supporters....

Oct. 15, 2026
Fall Preparation from Ontario Council’s Environment and Climate Change Chair
October is a month to enjoy the seasonal transitions. The array of colour in the trees is a spectacular sight. An autumn hike, complete with the crunch of leaves underfoot, can be uplifting. As we prepare for the winter ahead, storing some of those leaves in our flower beds provides winter shelter and insulation for insects. When birds migrate back to Ontario in the spring, you can enjoy watching them forage through those leaves for a nutritious meal. Surviving insects will emerge to become our seasonal pollinators. Leaving leaves is a win-win.
Preparing for winter is another fall task. Charming is a winter scene with a snowy roof and icicles everywhere. Icicles hanging from a roof?! This can be a sign of heat loss which can contribute to higher usage of fossil fuels. It turns out that fall is a perfect time of year to insulate our attics. It is not too hot to work up there. Cellulose insulation is preferred as it emits fewer greenhouse gases. (Drawdown Explorer, 2026). Deploy Alternative Insulation Materials |
Project Drawdown®)
Enjoy some pumpkin spice, squash soup and preparations for the fall season! If you have Ontario-specific questions, suggestions, pictures or resources to share, I would be pleased to hear from you at ecc@cfuwontcouncil.org
Thanks, Sue Bailey

October 15, 2026
Re-engaging Club Leaders (Part 1 of 3)
Re-engaging former leaders, women who have "been there, done that" and stepped back, requires a fundamentally different approach than developing emerging or early-career leaders. Traditional incentives like title elevation, basic committee seats, or standard promotional roles
often feel likes "more of the same" work without new value or inspiration....

October 15, 2026
The Housing We Need-Questions to Ask Your Candidates
Submitted by CFUW Northumberland
We face important decisions in the coming municipal election. Our votes for Mayor and Councillors will set the stage for the kind of housing we need in the next four years and beyond.
Open the PDF file to find the key issues to discuss with candidates.

Ontario Council Speaker Series
The CFUW Ontario Council Speaker Series exists to educate, advocate, and support life-long learning around key social, economic, and educational issues affecting women and society.
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Member voices
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