Celebrating 70 Years of Advocacy and Fellowship!
Welcome!
CFUW Stratford is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of women working to promote lifelong education, to improve the status of women and girls, and to enable women to effect positive change for a peaceful, sustainable future.
We welcome all women in and around Stratford, those with a university or college degree as well as women who have followed less traditional career paths, who share the CFUW goals.
Our roughly 70 members embody more than 70 years of remarkable dedication to both the club and the community.
Take Back the Night
CFUW members came out to support our community partner, Optimism Place, in the re-introduction of Take Back the Night event. This walk highlighted how everyone has the right to safety.
“What a fabulous start to the year…”
CFUW members and guests helped celebrate…
- The beginning of our 70th year
- Scholarships, advocacy and program
- Group sign-ups
- Return of Social Time and the 50/50 Draw
- Our new venue!
Such a great celebration, it even made the news.
Verna’s chocolate shortbread cookies were a big hit and for all those looking for the recipe, Verna generously shared.
16 Days of Activism 2024
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign, and one of the largest organizing strategies in the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence around the world. It begins on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day.
16 Ways to Take Action:
From CFUW’s 16 Days of Activism Information Package.
1. Write to your city’s Mayor urging them to light City Hall/public buildings in purple or orange throughout the 16 Days to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Download a template letter for CFUW Clubs here.
2. Donate to or volunteer at a women’s shelter, sexual assault or crisis centre, or an Indigenous women’s support centre in your community.
3. Read the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice here and consider how you can act on them.
4. Wear purple on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to raise awareness.
5. Call out gendered violence when you see it: counter victim-blaming and the idea that it is women and girls’ responsibility to avoid “dangerous” situations. Read this resource on “How to be an Active Bystander in 6 Steps.”
6. Wear a white ribbon and plan or attend a vigil on December 6, National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
7. Write a letter to your representatives urging them to stand against violence against women, harassment, and toxicity in politics. Download a template letter here.
8. Write an op-ed or letter to the editor in your local media outlet to raise awareness about gender-based violence and ways to combat it.
9. Support survivors of gender-based violence. Tell them “I believe you” and “this is not your fault.” Learn more about identifying the signs of relationship abuse and how you can help here. Learn about the hand “Signal for Help” that survivors can use to subtly indicate they are in need of help.
10. Reach out to Indigenous community partners about hanging red dresses in your area to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, as a part of the REDress Project.
11. Hang posters raising awareness about gender-based violence and support services in your community. You can download posters here.
12. Meet with your MP to express your concerns about gun violence in Canada and affirm your support for strict gun control measures.
13. Encourage women to get involved with politics and support them as candidates. Call out and report misogynistic, racist, and homophobic comments made towards women in politics, and commit to civility in your interactions with politicians and candidates.
14. Host kitchen table talks with your friends or CFUW Club members to discuss gender-based violence issues, how they affect your local community, and what you can do to support survivors and end the violence.
15. Organize webinars, panel discussions, public forums, speakers, or film screenings on topics related to gender-based violence.
16. Share the 16 Days of Activism package and CFUW’s and other organizations’ social media posts, or create and post your own.
Dee Tripp
Tuesday November 26 at 7:00pm
Dee Tripp
Is a new vision for long-term care in Ontario possible?
Changing our culture of elder care requires a fierce and deep examination of the historic status quo and a brave commitment to doing things differently. Join Dee Tripp, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils (OARC), as she shares insights into the challenges facing long-term care (LTC), what the culture is and could be, and paving the path towards positive change so that homes are excellent places to live and work.
As Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils (OARC), Dee has extensive experience leading the only organization in Canada—indeed, probably in North America—that represents residents to Government and stakeholders on behalf of their needs and interests. Through its interaction with Residents’ Councils in Ontario LTC homes as well as polling on the views of the 80,000 residents in those homes, OARC is uniquely positioned to inform sectoral policy and practices in the most positive light.
To Remember is to work for change
On Dec. 6, again this year, CFUW Stratford will organize the lowering of the flag at City Hall in remembrance. We will again be asking members to wear white ribbons in remembrance of these murdered young women and urging you to attend the lowering of the flag.
Ceremony will take place at 8:30 am.
Join us October 22
Join us for an interesting evening with Melanie Hare discussing the new urban designs for living.
Don’t forget to bring…
- An openness to new ideas!
- Toonies for our 50/50 draw
- Food for Emily Murphy
A few reminders…
Health and Safety
Please note that all buildings within the Avon Maitland School Board are scent free environments. Please refrain from wearing products that have strong scents. For more information, please review the attached information.
As we head indoors, flu, cold and COVID incidences are on the rise. Please keep yourself and your community healthy by wearing a mask if you are experiencing symptoms and stay home if you are unwell. Please check out this link for Huron Perth advice regarding the spread of respiratory illnesses.
In alignment with our Climate Action goals
- Carpooling
- Bring a mug
REALIZING POTENTIAL.
FOR ALL WOMEN.
Connect for Fun, Learning, and Impact
GET IN TOUCH
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GET INVOLVED
We acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral (Attiwondeonk), Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. the territory is governed by two Treaties. The first is the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant of 1701, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. The second is the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, an agreement made between eighteen Anishinabek Chiefs and the Canada Company. The responsibility to share and care for this territory extends to all of us for generations to come.