Congress of Black Women of Canada facts for kids
The Congress of Black Women of Canada (CBWC) / Congrès des femmes noires du Canada is a national group that started in 1973. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to making life better for Black women and their families. This includes helping them in their local areas and across Canada. The CBWC was formed to bring Black Canadian women together. It focused on their specific needs and concerns. These issues were sometimes overlooked by other women's groups or Black community organizations. The CBWC works on important topics like health, education, and fairness in communities. They also focus on housing, immigration, and child development.
A Look Back: How the CBWC Started
The Congress of Black Women of Canada (CBWC) began in 1973 in Toronto. A very important person named Kathleen "Kay" Livingstone was its first leader. The CBWC grew from an older group called the Canadian Negro Women's Association (CANEWA), which started in 1951. Kay Livingstone was also the first president of CANEWA.
The first meeting of the CBWC was held in Toronto. About 200 Black women from all over Canada came together. The group welcomed many people. There were two main rules for joining. First, any Black woman aged 16 or older could become a member. Second, any group led by Black women with similar goals could join. These goals included creating learning programs for Black women. They also aimed to offer services that Black women and their families needed. The CBWC was also a place for Black women to talk openly about issues affecting them.
The Cactus Symbol
The CBWC uses a cactus as its special symbol. The Toronto chapter's magazine, Speak Out, explained why. It said the cactus shows how strong and tough Black women are. Even when things are hard, like in dry soil, the cactus survives. It grows, multiplies, and produces fruit. A publication from the Montreal chapter in 1984 shared a motto. It said: "the cactus survives; she survives; and the race survives." This shows how important the cactus is to the organization. It represents their strength and ability to keep going.
Becoming Official
The CBWC officially became a registered non-profit organization in 1980. This happened at their fifth big meeting in Winnipeg. At this meeting, they approved their rules and elected a national leadership team.
Speaking Up for Black Women
On January 17, 1987, a former national president, Dr. Glenda P. Simms, gave an important speech. She spoke to a group called the Coalition of Visible Minority Women. She wanted to look closely at the women's movement in Canada. Dr. Simms famously said, "I want to get on record in saying that we are not an issue. We are people." She was talking about how some groups, like REAL Women, didn't support equal pay. They wanted women to return to traditional family roles.
Dr. Simms strongly supported groups like the Congress. She said, "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 agreed with Dr. Simms. They stand for women who are often overlooked. They believe these women should define themselves and their goals.
Jean Augustine helped start the Toronto chapter of the CBWC in 1973. She became the president of the organization in 1987. That same year, she received the first annual Kay Livingstone award.
Past National Conferences
| Year | Location | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Toronto | The Black Woman Today |
| 1974 | Montreal | The Black Woman and Her Family |
| 1976 | Halifax | Crisis of the Black Woman |
| 1977 | Windsor | Impetus, the Black Woman |
| 1980 | Winnipeg | Concerns for the 80s |
| 1982 | Edmonton | Black Women and the Workplace |
| 1987 | Vancouver | On the Move... Forward Together |
CBWC Chapters in Ontario
The CBWC has many local chapters across Canada. Here are some of the chapters in Ontario and their current leaders.
| Regional Chapter | Current President |
|---|---|
| Waterloo | Marcia Smellie |
| Scarborough | Chantal Joseph |
| Oshawa and Whitby | Angela Todd Anderson |
| Mississauga | vacant |
| Markham | Jessica Ketawaroo-Green |
| London | Nikisha Evans |
| Brampton | Patricia Challenger Brade |
| Ajax and Pickering | Magdalene Lesmond |
Waterloo Chapter
The Waterloo chapter started in 1988. Its first local president was Chloe Callander.
Scarborough Chapter
The Scarborough chapter was founded in 1985. Its goal was to create a strong network for Black women in the Scarborough area. They wanted to be a united voice for human rights and freedoms for Black women in Canada.
Oshawa and Whitby Chapter
The Oshawa and Whitby chapter was started by Ettie Rutherford in March 2007.
Mississauga Chapter
The Mississauga chapter was created in 1985.
Markham Chapter
The Markham chapter was established in February 2021. It is one of the newest chapters of the Congress.
London Chapter
The London chapter was started in 1989 by Gwen Jenkins. This chapter aimed to help with social, economic, and cultural issues for all Black women.
Brampton Chapter
The Brampton chapter was established in 1989. It was founded by Claudia Russell-Placenia, Silvilyn Holt, Jacqueline Maloney, and Veronica Lee Edwards.
Ajax and Pickering Chapter
The Ajax and Pickering chapter was founded in March 1996.
Former Ontario Chapters
Over the years, the Congress has changed and grown. Some older chapters, like Durham, Oakville, Toronto, and North York, are no longer active. New ones have been created in their place.
See also
- Canadian Negro Women's Association
- The Coloured Women's Club of Montreal
- Ladies Auxiliary of the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia
- Midwives in African Nova Scotian Communities
- Black Women's Collective
- Black Canadian Women in Action
- National Congress of Black Women
