In this Issue

• Message from Sandra Shaw, President 2024-2026, Ontario Council
• Remembrance Day Lest We Forget
• November 29 Speaker Series: The Role of Patriarchy
• Report on Speaker Series October 25
• Advocacy Updates
• Bill 55
• 16 Days of Activism
• Bill 33
• School Food Programs in Ontario
• Sudbury Police Create Dedicated IPV Unit
• The Conversation - Canada's Growing Aging Population
• Walrus Talks: Ending Gender-Based Violence
• Laurentian University Study
• Grants Available from CFUW National
• Let's Celebrate Longtime CFUW Members!
• Club News & Events

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A Message from Sandra Shaw

The friendship of women differs from that of men and even from the friendship that women have with men. We know that our friendships enhance our well-being, reduce stress, and foster resilience. The bonds that women forge with each other are stronger than men’s because we confide in each other and share our secrets and experiences. According to psychologist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, women are socialised to be more vulnerable, noting that being in touch with your feelings and sharing them is normalised and encouraged for women and girls. Women pay more attention to meaningful details, especially in the lives of friends, and by doing so, build trust, loyalty and a form of intimacy that may not be present in our relationships with men and is not often found in male-to-male friendships.

Emotional and mental strength are hallmarks of the deep bonds women form with other women. There is a unique science to our bonds. Oxytocin is sometimes referred to as the ‘bonding hormone’ and it has been found to play a key role in women’s friendships. Increasing levels of oxytocin found in women when they are with a female friend creates feelings of trust, connection and provides stress relief. A recent study has shown that oxytocin may also have cardio-protective effects in women! To add to this, women’s friendships, which strengthen social connections and mental health, trigger an increase in dopamine and serotonin which are responsible for happiness and contentment. Further, having female friends serves as protection against cognitive decline (Research** shows that social engagement in midlife significantly reduces the risk of dementia by 38% and mild cognitive impairments by 21% in later years.).

What treasures our female friends are!

CFUW Club membership provides major opportunities for friendship building and preservation. Women who join and stay with our Clubs share core values which are crucial to friendship. Championing issues together, learning together, breaking bread together and having fun together are all important to keeping our friendships alive.

Over these past 18 months as President, I have met women who have been CFUW members for over 50 years (in a couple of cases for over 70 years). What kept them engaged with their Clubs? Their friendships, both old and new. Women have told me they met their best friends through CFUW, as have I.

Thank you for the opportunity to visit your Clubs where I have seen the bonds of deep friendships firsthand and where you have given me the opportunity to make new friends as well. We should not forget that friendships are vital to CFUW’s substance, and may, in the end, be the most important pillar of all.

"In the book of life, a sister-like friend writes the most beautiful chapters beside you."

Sandra Shaw

President, CFUW Ontario Council (2024-2026)

** https://www.self.com/story/female-friendships, https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/the-science-of-female-friendships-why-they-matter/ 

Remembrance Day November 11 2025

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause for two minutes of silence to pay tribute to all members of the Canadian Armed Forces, to veterans of wars, and to those who have served in peace. Since 1921, the Poppy has stood as a national symbol of Remembrance. Click here to read about the evolving role of women in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Speaker Series November 29th

Please join us at 10 AM on Saturday, November 29th for our second Speaker Series Event for 2025-2026. In this virtual session, we welcome Kim Verwaayen, Associate Professor, Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, University of Western Ontario, as she explores the topic of Patriarchy from a historical and modern perspective.

According to researchers Mayank Gupta, Jayakrishna S Madabushi and Nihit Gupta, the systemic oppression of women and gender-based discrimination has deep roots in human civilization. As evident in both written texts and widespread practices, conscious and unconscious biases associated with patriarchy have been and continue to be interlaced with power struggles, control, and conformity enforced by the male-dominant cultures of the time. Brought into bold relief in this pandemic, some recent events such as the Me to Movement and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, have heightened social outrage against bias, racism, and bigotry and have also brought us to an inflection point demanding our better understanding of the effects of patriarchy.

Where do we go from here? Join us on November 29th for our speaker and a thoughtful discussion of patriarchy and how society will overcome this social convention rooted in bias.

Our Speaker Series events are free, virtual sessions held on our Zoom platform. After the speaker and panel discussion, there will be time to share and chat with other attendees.

Please register to attend.

For more information and registration for the November 29^th event, please click here.

Speaker Series October 25th

Submitted by Niki Carlan, OC Legislative Chair

The Speaker Series session on October 25, 2025 gave us a powerful look at Intimate Partner Violence and how it affects women in Ontario.

Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP for Toronto Centre sponsor of Bill 55: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Epidemic Act, 2025 spoke with passion and provided information about the Bill. This Bill replaces previous legislation introduced in the last legislative session and received support from all parties. Unfortunately, the Bill was not given royal assent before the election was called. Bill 55 recognizes that In Ontario more than 100 municipalities in the Province have recognized IPV as an epidemic. The Bill will provide the foundation for funding to provide protection for victims and encourage the adoption of the Renfrew inquest’s recommendations. The second speaker. Fartumo Kusow, shared her personal story as the mother of a daughter who died at the hand of a violent partner. Try as she might she was not able to save her child. Fartumo encouraged us to investigate ways in which family members can actively intercede on behalf of IP victims.

As a result of these presentations CFUW Ontario Council is going to explore ways in which we can intercede before violent acts take place. Let’s not only deal with the consequence but act to prevent the violence in the first place. As a first step you can sign MPP Wong-Tam's petition to pass Bill 55 declaring Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic in Ontario. If you want further information Niki Carlan, our Legislative Chair, will be happy to attempt to answer your questions: legislation@cfuwontcouncil.org.

There were a number of other follow-up actions discussed during this presentation, including letter-of-support templates and the OC IPV Toolkit. These actions and related resources have been posted on the Take Action! page of our website. Please have a look at these.

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Submitted by Kathy Wosnick, OC Advocacy Chair

CFUW OC Support for Bill 55 to Declare IPV an Epidemic in Ontario

As mentioned above, the follow-up actions from our October 25th Speaker Series have been posted on the Take Action! page of the OC website, as well as a number of resources including links to MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam's petition and to Fartumo Kusow's website.

OC President Sandra Shaw will be sending a letter expressing CFUW Ontario Council's support for Bill 55: The Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act 2025, to Premier Ford, Ministers and the Shadow Cabinet. Ontario clubs can also send in letters supporting Bill 55. Please click here to download a template for a letter of support that can be sent to your MPPs by Ontario Club Presidents.

For letters sent from Ontario clubs, find your MPP using one of the links below.

https://www.ola.org/en/members/current

https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/composite-list

16 Days of Activism NOVEMBER 25 TO DECEMBER 10

CFUW OC Opposition to Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025

This proposed legislation would significantly expand control of education at all levels by the government of Ontario through increased ministerial power over school boards and post-secondary institutions. Particularly troublesome are provisions making it easier for the province to intervene or take control of school boards overriding locally elected trustees, as well as a requirement for a police presence in schools. In post secondary institutions the province would be able to decide student fees and available supports as well as maintain oversight of an unclear merit-based admission system.

Teachers, education workers at al levels and education critics have major concerns about the overreach of Bill 33.

A letter expressing our concerns has been sent to Premier Ford, Ministers and the Shadow Cabinet from CFUW Ontario Council. You can read the OC letter here. A template letter suitable for CFUW Ontario clubs to send to local MPP’s expressing concerns with Bill 33 is posted on the OC website. You can view/download the letter here.

For letters sent from Ontario clubs, find your MPP using one of the links below.

https://www.ola.org/en/members/current

https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/composite-list

School Food Programs in Ontario

Sudbury Police Create Dedicated IPV Unit

Submitted by Niki Carlan, OC Legislative Chair

On November 7th, 2023, the City of Greater Sudbury unanimously declared intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic. As in other municipalities, this declaration calls on the provincial and federal governments for support for local services including emergency, social, health, and police services. 

In June of this year, the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) launched a dedicated Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) unit, as part of a 1-year pilot project. The unit is staffed by four police officers and one sergeant, covering day and afternoon shifts. The primary goal is to improve investigations, boost victim support, and alleviate pressure on front-line officers by handling complex and involved IPV cases. Read the CTV News article here.

Canada has a growing aging population

From The Conversation, Edition Canada

https://theconversationcanada.cmail19.com/t/r-e-tktdikkt-bavlyak-r/

One of the most universal experiences is the act of aging — if you’re fortunate, of course. Growing older and enjoying the simple joys of living and loving is a privilege. But, as social gerontology scholar Denise Suzanne Cloutier from the University of Victoria shares in her new piece today at The Conversation Canada, longevity comes with a cost.

The longer we live, the greater our chance of developing health conditions such as hypertension, osteoarthritis, heart disease, cancer and dementia, among a long list of others. When that happens — for roughly eight per cent of seniors — the already strained long-term care (LTC) system is meant to step in. However, just as the number of older adults who need LTC grows, so does the number of care workers who exist due to a number of pressures.

“Creating environments that better support the conditions of care — quality of life for residents and workers, and having care labour recognized, respected and adequately remunerated across all sectors, with opportunities for training and career advancement — will encourage long-time workers to remain in the sector,” Cloutier writes.

She points out that if Canada wants to ensure dignity in aging, it must start treating care work as essential.

The Walrus Talks: Ending Gender-Based Violence

Join us on November 19 for The Walrus Talks: Ending Gender-Based Violence, presented by YWCA Canada — a national conversation for change bringing together activists, policymakers, advocates, and experts to explore policy gaps, cultural shifts, and evidence-based solutions to end gender-based violence.

National Gallery of Canada

380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa



General Admission: $20

Student/Senior: $12

Livestream: Free with registration

Laurentian University Study

Ursula Cafaro, a PhD candidate in the Human Studies and Interdisciplinarity program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, is conducting research to better understand the experiences of women who return to postsecondary education later in life. Individuals who identify as women between the ages of 55 and 70, who are currently attending or have attended in the last two years a postsecondary institution in Ontario, may participate in this study. To learn more, please click here.

GRANTS AVAILABLE from CFUW NATIONAL

This year, CFUW National has three Committee/Grant programs:

• CFUW Communications Committee IT Support Program
• CFUW Advocacy Grant
• CFUW Membership Grants

The IT Support Program will cover the cost of three ZOOM sessions with an IT professional to assist CFUW clubs with updating their existing club website, or creating a landing page. Application deadline is November 30, 2025.

The Advocacy Grant is an incentive fund for clubs/councils to use to move advocacy forward in local and/or regional areas. Application deadline is November 30, 2025.

CFUW Membership Grants will fall into three categories:

1. Updating branding/profile raising printed materials this year (not retroactive) including a new banner but excluding electronic materials e.g., Web page or Facebook which Communication Cttee will be supporting. Grants up to $250 each.  $1000 total is available for this type of grant.
2. NEW (started and executed this year:) projects/events that support your members and strengthen your Club’s and CFUW’s profile in the community (including anniversary celebrations). Grants up to $500 each. $2000 is available for this type of grant.
3. Expanding or modifying RECURRING or ONGOING event or project with proven success for at least 2 years. Grants up to $250 each.  $1000 total is available for this type of grant.

The application deadline for Membership Grants is November 19, 2025.

Click here to get all the information about these grants, including grant amounts and award criteria.

Honouring our Longtime Members for their

Tenacity and Wisdom

Dear Club Presidents,

If you have a Club member who has been with CFUW for 50 years or more and is a current member of your Club, we would like to honour her in the Ontario Council Newsletter. Please send a photo and a short biography to communications@cfuwontcouncil.org and we will include both in the next edition!

Thank you.

CFUW Cornwall - Founding Member Nancy Taylor

Nancy has been a member and supported the CFUW Cornwall club for 70 years!

Nancy Taylor Biography, as told to Jennifer Adams

“I had the pleasure of visiting Nancy, the only Founding Member of our club who is still with us, at her lovely apartment in Chateau Cornwall. Nancy has been a member and supported our club for 70 years!

Nancy tells me she graduated from Three Rivers High School. From there she attended Mount Allison University and graduated with a BA, Cum Laude, Honours English in 1952. While she attended university Nancy was the Editor of the Argosy Newspaper. Upon graduation she worked for the CBC in Toronto as a Script Assistant in the News Department. She related to me how exciting it was to be in the audience when CBC launched its first TV show in 1952.

She married John Ellis Taylor in 1953 and settled in Cornwall. While living in Cornwall, she was a charter member of the University Women’s Club, a member of the Centennial Choir, Trinity Anglican Church, a board member of the Children’s Aid Society, the YM -YWCA, the Cornwall Golf Club, the Cornwall Curling Club and participated in the Operatic Society. She also volunteered as the Blood Donor Clinic Chair, worked in the GlenStorDun Lodge Library and assisted with Meals on Wheels.

Throughout her life Nancy has enjoyed reading, playing the piano, duplicate bridge, community concerts, golfing, curling, trips to Wales with the Centennial Choir and summers at a cottage on our beautiful St Lawrence River.

When Nancy joined CFUW Cornwall and District she remembers fondly Jean Cameron, Lois Crowfoot, Verna Levere and many others. The most important event at that time was the Book Fair which raised considerable funds for the Scholarship Committee. She was the Recording Secretary at some point in her membership.

Above all she tells me she has dearly loved and enjoyed her family of three daughters and was very fortunate to have a mostly happy and full life, and was able to cope with the bumps thanks to her husband and friends.”

Excerpted from CFUW Cornwall & District Autumn 2025 Dispatch, Issue 22.



Club News & Events

As always, there's lots going on with Ontario Clubs! Please send your club news & events to communications@cfuwontcouncil.org.

CFUW Orillia - Several Members Honoured With Volunteer Awards!

Congratulations to Barb Jones, a member of CFUW Orillia who was awarded the Order of Orillia, an honour that recognizes volunteers who have dedicated a decade or more to enhancing and inspiring the community through outstanding service.

A member of CFUW Orillia for over 20 years, Barb served as Co-President from 2015 to 2017. During her leadership, she focused on strengthening member engagement and expanding scholarship opportunities for local high school graduates. She also introduced a “triumvirate” model for running monthly meetings, in which responsibilities were shared among members. This innovative approach has since been adopted by CFUW clubs across the country. Barb further raised the club’s profile by organizing a community event featuring science broadcaster Bob McDonald of Quirks & Quarks fame.

Most recently, Barb played a key role on the committee for CFUW Orillia’s 70th Anniversary, where she was instrumental in securing Margaret Atwood as guest speaker for the Gala.

Beyond CFUW, Barb is widely recognized as “an enthusiastic leader and mentor who strives to empower others and instill a sense of belonging.” She is a founding member of Third Age Learning Lakehead, developing a speakers’ series in partnership with Lakehead University to provide engaging educational opportunities for adult learners. She also participated in the “Ladies of the Lake” calendar fundraiser for the protection of Lake Simcoe.

Her fundraising efforts have further supported the Orillia Museum of Art & History, The Sharing Place Food Centre, and Hillcrest Lodge. 

CFUW Peterborough Open House

On September 25^th, CFUW Peterborough was honoured to have some very special guests at our Open House and Welcome Back celebration.

CFUW Sudbury Sad News - Marg Chambers

CFUW Sudbury was formed in 1948. In 1949, Marg Chambers joined the club and has been a continuous member ever since. It is with a heavy heart to announce that our dear friend has passed away on October 14, 2025. I once asked Marg her secret to a long life and she replied, “just keep waking up”. Although both her children moved away, Marg refused to join them because she didn’t want to leave her good friends behind, nor her beloved club and interest groups, particularly the book discussion group. An avid reader into her final year of life, some of my favourite books were ones that she recommended to me.

During Margaret’s time in the club, she knew 2 CFUW National presidents (Margaret Orange and Linda Souter) as well as one CFUW National VP-Ontario, Eleanor Milliken, who was also her long time neighbour and dear friend.  After Eleanor moved away in 2015, Marg donated a large sum of money to Laurentian University to endow a bursary in her honour. It is the CFUW Sudbury Eleanor Milliken Scholarship. Marg has also contributed annually to several scholarships at Cambrian College and was a long-time sponsor of CFUW Sudbury’s signature fundraiser, “Celebrate Women”.

Marg was “tickled pink” to receive the CFUW Sudbury sage award in 2019, and particularly pleased to have it given to her by then CFUW National President, Grace Hollett. A very appropriate honour since it is likely Marg has been one of the longest members of CFUW, if not the longest. Marg was always so positive and a delight to visit. She will be missed by her many friends, particularly Kathleen Stott, who brought her to club meetings and book club for years and was a very faithful visitor right up to the end. Here is a link to her lovely obituary. Margaret Chambers Obituary - Sudbury, ON | Lougheed Funeral Home

So long dear friend, may you rest in peace.

Christine Tworo, CFUW Sudbury

Marg with Elizabeth May in 2008

SAVE THE DATE!

Friday, May 22, 2026 to Saturday, May 23, 2026

Ontario Council’s 2026 AGM and Conference is going to be an in-person event! We look forward to welcoming everyone to Peterborough, beginning at 4 PM on Friday, May 22^nd through to Saturday, May 23^rd.

Club Newsletters

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Ontario Council News is a newsletter for and about our Ontario Clubs.

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