ONTARIO COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2004

On the weekend of May 15th, the 26th Annual General Meeting was held in the Chapel of historic Victoria College, University of Toronto to celebrate the theme of Change: Reviewing the Past: Mapping the Future.

On Friday evening a group from the Toronto Club entertained and informed us with an amusing presentation on the Famous Five, who gained their fame for the Persons Case of 1929.

At the business session on Saturday morning a vote approved the motion to increase Ontario Council fees by one dollar in each of the next three years.

Our luncheon guest, Dr. S. Qaadra, MPP for Etobicoke North, brought greetings from Premier Dalton McGuinty. He was accompanied by his mother, Dr. Mussarrat Qaadri.

Club presidents attended a leadership workshop conducted by the Regional Directors. At the same time an open forum, The Road Ahead gave other members an opportunity to share views on the purpose of CFUW, the relationship between their Clubs and Ontario Council as well as other issues of interest or concern.

In the afternoon members attended one of four workshops where leaders presented facts in their area of expertise and offered suggestions for positive change.

1. Laurel Rothman, Director of Community Building & Social Reform at the Family Service Association of Toronto spoke on child poverty
2. Judy Findlay, Ontario’s Child Advocate, spoke on child advocacy and the role of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
3. Pamela Cross, Legal Director of the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women, helped us understand how the law relates to the problem of violence against women
4. Theresa McClenaghan, a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, talked about the law and drinking water standards.

For some, this was a visit to old haunts - staying in residence, visiting Burwash Hall and other familiar spots.