Another holiday season is upon us. A season marked by preparation – for our family and friends – to spread joy and cheer. It is a season of hope and faith in the goodness of humanity.  It is a season of love, by showing kindness to those we don’t know…. Even though these are difficult times, let us nevertheless reflect on the beauty, peace and solemnity that will surround us.

On behalf of the Ontario Council Board of Directors, I wish you and yours all the magic during these last days of December, 2021 and look forward to a bright 2022 New Year!!

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10th, International Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

This year, from November 25th to December 10th, Ontario Council messaged its members daily, via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail, facts, figures and responses to eliminating gender-based violence and violence against women in politics. To view all Ontario Council's #16Days posts, click here.

Members attended the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women event sponsored by Green Haven Shelter for Women, Monday November 29th at the Orillia Opera House. A flag was raised by Orillia Mayor, Steve Clark, in honour of the day. Interest Groups leaders were asked to read a "Remembrance" document with their groups who were meeting during the 16 Days. The text was prepared by Heather Lewis (CFUW Orillia VP). You can read the "Remembrance" document here. The CFUW Orillia Advocacy Chair wrote an op-ed piece that was published in the local paper - Orillia Matters. https://www.orilliamatters.com/letters-to-the-editor/letter-violence-against-women-happens-at-home-at-work-at-school-and-online-4819270 And finally, members attended the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, arranged by the Ontario Provincial Police Headquarters in Orillia. Those in attendance were requested to wear purple scarfs in support of the event.

Look for our Election Toolkit concerning the June 2^nd Ontario provincial election coming the end of January.

No Ontario Council resolutions have been proposed for 2022. However, a number of Ontario clubs are working on national resolutions.

At time of writing, we are still waiting for Ontario to sign onto the federal early learning and child care agreement.

The Legislature has closed for the holidays, reopening on February 22, 2022.

Bills that were adopted in the final days include:

On October 21st, the CFUW National Advocacy committee hosted a webinar entitled “CFUW Group Training - Managing Opioid Overdose & Naloxone Training”. The presenter was Mark Barnes, an Ottawa Pharmacist and the Director of Community Outreach for Respect RX Pharmacies.

As you know, one of the four resolutions passed at the 2021 Virtual AGM and Policy Session related to Canada’s Opioid Crisis. One of the five action items detailed in that resolution reads: “improving access to harm reduction treatments, such as: (a) easier access to Naloxone for emergency use . . . “. The presentation by Mark Barnes was a first step in addressing that action. We learned these startling statistics:

Read more here.

The recent Ontario Council Speaker Series on November 27th also focused on the opioid crisis. The topic was Tackling The Opioid Crisis in Ontario, and the speakers were Amber Fritz, who is with the Réseau ACCESS Network, and Shawn McLaren who is with St. John Ambulance. Amber has worked on the frontline of the drug poisoning crisis on several initiatives including overdose prevention education and naloxone and harm reduction distribution. As Chief Learning Officer for St. John Ambulance, Shawn has launched an Opioid program focused on the reduction of stigma and promotion of harm reduction. A recording for the November 27^th session is available. To request a link to the recording and/or to view both speakers’ bios, click here.

Sandra Shaw, Chair of the OC Status of Women & Human Rights Standing Committee, has proposed a virtual club whose purpose aligns with CFUW and CFUW Ontario Council to improve the status of women and to promote human rights, public education, social justice and peace. The eClub would meet monthly or bi-monthly via ZOOM to support and develop advocacy initiatives for equal rights for women and girls in Ontario, Canada and globally, including and especially the right to education at all levels for women and girls. The official name of the eClub is Assembly of Remote and Rural Ontario Women (ARROW). To learn more, read the eClub communication from Sandra. If you are interested in becoming a member of ARROW, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

If you have any questions, please contact the Ontario Council Bylaws Committee, at [email protected]. The OC Bylaw Amendment Process and Form 1 may also be downloaded from Club Resources on the OC website at Club Resources | CFUW Ontario Council (cfuwontcouncil.org).

The purpose of the OC Membership Committee is to research ideas, best practices and strategies related to recruitment and retention of membership. The committee will share strategies with clubs to help strengthen their recruitment efforts and find ways to engage diverse women and women of all ages and educational backgrounds who have goals and interests aligned with those of CFUW. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the OC Membership Committee have now been published on the OC website. Click here to view.

Thank-you to CFUW Oakville member Myra for an article that provides an excellent overview of risk management entitled It's Risky to Ignore Risk Management! You can read the article on the OC website here.

Elections for the Ontario Council Board for 2022 - 2024 will be held at the AGM being held May 14 - 15, 2022. Nomination forms will be available on the OC website in January.

Save the date! January 25, 2022 at 7 p.m. on ZOOM, award-winning author Elizabeth Hay (Alone in the Classroom, Late Nights on Air, All Things Consoled) in conversation with CBC host Alan Neal. Enjoy a warm and spirited dialogue with two engaging Canadians who share a passion for excellence in their professions. Tickets are $20 and are available at CFUW Kanata. All proceeds support the CFUW/Kanata Scholarship Trust.

You are cordially invited to attend CFUW Etobicoke’s 8^th annual Stop the Violence Breakfast on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 9 am via Zoom. This year we present a conversation with award winning author Donna Morrissey. Many of us remember lively book club discussions around titles like Kit’s Law and Sylvanus Now. We laughed and cried as Donna brought the east coast of Canada alive for us. Donna’s latest book is called Pluck and is autobiographical. In her conversation with us, Donna will be sharing intimate details not included in the publication. You will leave inspired by the power of female friendship and courage. Tickets are $30. Please see http://www.cfuwetobicoke.ca/stop-the-violence-breakfast/ for more details.