Congress of Black Women of Canada explained

The Congress of Black Women of Canada (CBWC) /, which began in 1973, is a national non-profit organization that "is dedicated to improving the lives of all Black women and their families in their local and national communities."[1] It arose to organize Canadian Black women and focus on their specific issues and concerns, separate from the general women's movement and Black nationalist organizations, which did not always represent the interests of Black women around issues of race, gender, and class oppression.[2] The organizing and advocacy work of the CBWC has focused on "such issues as health, housing, racism, education, immigration, criminal law, police-community relations and child development."

History

The Congress of Black Women of Canada (CBWC) was formed in 1973 in Toronto with Kathleen "Kay" Livingstone as Chair.[3] It developed out of the Canadian Negro Women's Association (CANEWA), which began in 1951, with Kay Livingstone as its first president. Its first meeting was held at the Westbury Hotel in Toronto, and gathered 200 Black women from across Canada.[4] The organisation was open to many and its two distinctive rules were that membership was open to all Black women who were at least sixteen years of age, as well as any Black female led organisations whose aims were similar to those of the Congress.[5] Some of these aims included providing educational programs for Black women, planning and implementing a program of services to fulfill the requirements of Black women and their families.[6] It also was established as a "vehicle for Black women to openly examine issues which affect them."

They are represented symbolically by a cactus. The Toronto Regional Chapter's second issue of publication, Speak Out, stated that: "the cactus is a plant symbolic of the strengths and resilience of Black women. No matter how arid the soil... The cactus survives, multiplies and bears fruit."[7] The 10th anniversary publication by the Montreal Regional Committee in 1984 included the motto: "the cactus survives; she survives; and the race survives",[8] showcasing the importance of the cactus symbolically to the organization and its resilience.

The CBWC incorporated as a registered non-profit organisation in 1980 at their fifth conference in Winnipeg, and the constitution was ratified and a National Executive Council was elected.

On January 17, 1987, former National President Dr. Glenda P. Simms addressed the Coalition of Visible Minority Women in order to "critically examine" the women's movement in Canada. Simms was quoted to say: "I want to get on record in saying that we are not an issue. We are people."[9] The discussion surrounding a woman's movement, REAL Women, that opposed "equal pay and favouring to return to traditional family values." Dr. Simms advocated for movements such as the Congress, and stated: "That's the message we're going to tell mainstream Canadian women. We're going to get our act together, and we're going to show them what a real women's movement should be." The Congress stood behind Dr. Simms words and advocates as a movement that which calls for marginalised women to define themselves. In 1990 Dr. Simms was appointed as the first Black president of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women.[10]

Jean Augustine, who founded the Toronto chapter of the CBWC in 1973,[11] became president of the organization in 1987, and was awarded the first annual Kay Livingstone award that year.[12] [13]

Past Conferences!Year!Location!Theme
1973TorontoThe Black Woman Today
1974MontrealThe Black Woman and Her Family
1976HalifaxCrisis of the Black Woman
1977WindsorImpetus, the Black Woman
1980WinnipegConcerns for the 80s
1982EdmontonBlack Women and the Workplace
1987Vancouver[14] [15] On the Move... Forward Together

Ontario Regional Chapters

Regional Chapter Presidents[16] !Regional Chapter!Current President
Waterloo Marcia Smellie[17]
ScarboroughChantal Joseph[18]
Oshawa and WhitbyAngela Todd Anderson[19]
Mississaugavacant[20]
MarkhamJessica Ketawaroo-Green[21]
LondonNikisha Evans[22]
BramptonPatricia Challenger Brade[23]
Ajax and PickeringMagdalene Lesmond[24]

Waterloo

The Waterloo Regional Chapter was initially formed in 1988, at the home of Veronica Norris-Lue. The first local president was Chloe Callander.

Scarborough

The Scarborough Regional Chapter was founded in 1985. Their purpose was to provide a network of solidarity for Black Women in the Scarborough region, with Scarborough's growing Black population in mind, and to act as a united voice in the defence and extension of human rights and liberties for Black Women of Canada.[25]

Oshawa and Whitby

The Oshawa and Whitby Regional Chapter was founded by Ettie Rutherford in March of 2007.[26]

Mississauga

The Mississauga Regional Chapter was established in 1985.

Markham

The Markham Regional Chapter was established in February of 2021, making it one of the most recent chapters of the Congress.

London

The London Regional Chapter was established in 1989 by Gwen Jenkins.[27] The objectives of the London, Ontario chapter were to address the "social, economic and cultural issues of all Black women."

Brampton

The Brampton Regional Chapter was established in 1989 by Claudia Russell-Placenia, Silvilyn Holt, Jacqueline Maloney, and Veronica Lee Edwards.

Ajax and Pickering

The Ajax and Pickering Regional Chapter was founded in March of 1996.

Former Ontario Regional Chapters

The Congress has evolved in numerous ways since its conception in 1973, and so with the establishment of new Chapters came the end to ones formerly known as the Durham, Oakville, Toronto and North York.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Congress of Black Women of Canada, Ontario Region . Congress of Black Women of Canada, Ontario Region. en-CA. February 7, 2020 .
  2. Mills . Jennifer . 2015. Conferencing as a Site for the Mobilization of Black Feminist Identities in the Congress of Black Women of Canada, 1973-1983. Journal of Black Studies . en. 46. 4. 415–441. 10.1177/0021934714568456. 143789040 . 0021-9347.
  3. Book: Hill, Lawrence, 1957-. Women of vision : the story of the Canadian Negro Women's Association, 1951-1976. 1996. Umbrella Press. 1-895642-18-3. Toronto. 37031142.
  4. Web site: Mirror . Rosemary Sadlier City Centre . BLACK IN TORONTO: Kay Livingstone gets national recognition . 2023-03-25 . Toronto.com . 26 September 2017 . en.
  5. Augustine, Jean. "The Congress of Black Women of Canada, Correspondence Memos." 1987-1988. 2007-022/007,04, Jean Augustine Fonds, Clara Thomas Archives, York University, Toronto.
  6. News: McFarlane . Bev . 12 August 1986 . Durham Chapter at Congress . 10 . Share News.
  7. Augustine, Jean. "Congress of Black Women of Canada, Agendas, Programs, Memos," 1985-7. 2007-022/006, 02, Jean Augustine Fonds, Clara Thomas Archives, York University, Toronto.
  8. Augustine, Jean. "Congress of Black Women of Canada, National Conference," 1984. 2007-022/005, 011, Jean Augustine Fonds, Clara Thomas Archives, York University, Toronto.
  9. "New group takes up arms for immigrant, minority women." Globe & Mail [Toronto, Canada], 19 Jan. 1987, p. A12. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A165283363/AONE?u=yorku_main&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=e61d8a7e. Accessed 25 March 2023.
  10. Web site: Bascaramurty . Dakshana . Obituary: Equal rights champion Glenda Simms believed feminism should include everyone . The Globe and Mail . 18 July 2024 . 25 January 2022.
  11. Web site: York University Libraries . Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections online exhibits Congress of Black Women of Canada · The Jean Augustine Political Button Collection . archives.library.yorku.ca. en-US. 2020-02-07.
  12. News: Rose from domestic to principal, black woman honored by group . Gies . Sheila . September 28, 1987. The Globe and Mail.
  13. News: Black women honour Augustine . September 28, 1987. Toronto Star. D3.
  14. News: Black women in jeopardy. 1987-05-15. Vancouver Sun. A3. 0832-1299.
  15. News: Canadian black women's group sets sights on May convention. Smith. Jackie. 1987-04-04. Toronto Star. K14. 0319-0781.
  16. Web site: CBWC . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Ontario Region . en-US.
  17. Web site: CBWC Waterloo . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Waterloo . en-US.
  18. Web site: CBWC Scarborough . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Scarborough . en-US.
  19. Web site: CBWC Oshawa/Whitby . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Oshawa/Whitby Chapter . en-US.
  20. Web site: CBWC Mississauga . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Ontario Region . en-US.
  21. Web site: CBWC Markham . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Ontario Region . en-US.
  22. Web site: CBWC London . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Ontario Region . en-US.
  23. Web site: CBWC Brampton . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Brampton . en-US.
  24. Web site: CBWC Ajax/Pickering . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Ajax/Pickering . en-US.
  25. Augustine, Jean. "Congress of Black Women of Canada, Scarborough Chapter, Notes, Resource Material." 1985. 2007-022/005, 013, Jean Augustine Fonds, Clara Thomas Archives, York University, Toronto.
  26. Web site: Who We Are . 2023-03-22 . CBWC Oshawa/Whitby Chapter . en-US.
  27. Web site: Who We Are . 2023-03-22 . CBWC London . en-US.