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ONTARIO COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 2009

Date: May 22nd and 23rd, 2009
Host: CFUW Belleville and District
Theme: Women of Influence, Expanding Roles for Women in the 21st Century

PROGRAMME

Friday evening opened with remarks from the local elected officials, and included the presentation of Advocacy Certificates to the women who have done much of the advocacy work for Ontario Council for 2008-2009.
Sheila Clark, Cosmetic Pesticides
Carolyn Day, Water
Linda Hall, Poverty
M. Elaine Harvey, Environment
Elizabeth Haynes, Workplace Harassment
Olga Lee and Dr. Charlotte Rigby, Environmental Toxins
Edeltraud Neal, Family Law Education for Women (FLEW)
Standing Committee on the Status of Women Sub-Committee on Women and Violence
– Judie Arrowood, Ann McElhinney, Arleen Midriak, Rhea Pretsell and Wendy Schmara

The Saturday morning Presidents' breakfast, the five Regional Directors each presented a facet of being a club president, with emphasis on communication, advocacy and networking with other CFUW clubs.

The business meeting, with 152 members in attendance, was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by OC President Myra Willis. It was announced that Ontario Council is now incorporated. OC Treasurer, Helen Sami presented the budget for 2009-2010. The motion that OC membership dues for student members be waived for the 2009-10 fiscal year, passed readily.

There were four workshops to choose from, which included these "Women of Influence":

  • Tanya Cooper, teacher, author, radio host and speaker, "Colombia: A Diamond in the Rough". Tanya taught for 3 years in Colombia, has written a book about the social injustices and violence experienced by people she met there. She wants to share these stories and encourage us to advocate on behalf of the people of Colombia.
  • Major Annette Snow M.D., Wing Surgeon, Canadian Forces, Trenton. "Women in Medicine and the Military". She joined the Canadian Forces in 1993, under the Medical Officer Training Plan. She has had aeromedical deployments to Israel/Syria, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Aviation medicine is her particular interest. She supports tactical airlifts evacuating injured troops back to Canada.
  • Caroline G. Granger, President and CEO, The Grange of Prince Edward County Vineyards and Estate Winery, which she established. "Sometimes You Just Have to Get Dirty". She has worked to lobby for official designation of the region, and is very involved with promoting the Prince Edward County wine industry and tourism to the area. In 2006, she was named the County's first Business Woman of the Year.
  • Dr. Kimberley Woodhouse, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science, Queen's University; Associate Director of the Advanced Regenerative Tissue Engineering Centre; Scientist, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre. "Soap, Students & Stem Cells: A Wonderful Life!" Kim worked for 10 years in the private sector, lost her job and decided to get a PhD and switch to academia. Following that path, she became involved in research of tissue engineering.
Keynote speaker Martha Hall Findlay, Liberal MP, Willowdale, introduced herself as a graduate of U of T's International Relations Programme and OsgoodeLaw School. After making a bid for the Liberal leadership, she is currently the Critic of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities for the Official Opposition. Martha is very concerned when child care is seen as a "woman's issue". She believes it is an economic issue, and that if there were a national child care and early learning program in place, women could learn skills, enter the workforce, fill the shortages and earn a good income. She is involved with a multi-partisan group called "Equal Voice", which is dedicated to electing more women. Regarding attack ads, Martha says that if we don't like these ads, then we could write letters and voice our distaste.

With thanks to CFUW Belleville & District and the Co-chairs, Carol Sayeau and Carol Hennessey, and the members of the Local Arrangements Committee for creating and hosting a wonderful AGM.