News from LEAF December 2010
LEAF
In This Issue
LEAF Trailblazers... Toronto and Windsor
Celebrate LEAF! 25-Years of Progress Because of Supporters Like You!
LEAF to Welcome New Executive Director in 2011
Teacher Association Conference
Speakers Bureau
LEAF Calgary
LEAF Toronto Persons Day Breakfast
LEAF Edmonton Persons Day Breakfast
LEAF Halifax Persons Day Breakfast
LEAF Sudbury Persons Day Breakfast
Mad Men: Pay Equity, Then and Now
R. v. J.A. LEAF Intervention at the Supreme Court of Canada
Equality Rights Central
Ways to Support LEAF
 
 Jennifer Tomaszewski 

Here, with best wishes, are your latest LEAF-Lines.

 

From Trailblazers to unprecedented success at gaining intervener status, this issue brings news of success at LEAF National and LEAF Branches across Canada. 

 

 

 

Warmest Regards from Edmonton,

Jennifer Tomaszewski

Chair LEAF National Board of Directors

LEAF Trailblazers... Toronto and Windsor

Trailblazers: Meeting Women in Law was a huge success this year with approximately 100 young women attending the program in Toronto.  

 

Toronto Trailblazers group

After spending the day with these young people, LEAF and OJEN know the future of professional women is very bright! We have received fabulous feedback from the lawyers, community members and partner organizations who took part in the day, and were thrilled to be part of this event.

Trailblazer Toronto speaking    Trailblazers Toronto 2010
The scores of young high school women who participated in Trailblazers Toronto 2010 learned a great deal about equality rights and women in the legal profession. OJEN logo

A special thanks to OJEN for making the

day possible!

 

 

LEAF Trailblazers Windsor                                                

  

The first annual Trailblazers: Meeting Women in Law day in Windsor was very well received by the Windsor community. Twenty high school girls attended the LEAF Windsor Persons Day Lunch and participated in a day of workshops, touring the law school and meeting women who work in the law.  One hundred percent of the girls who completed the evaluation said they "now know more about women's accomplishments in law", and "found the sessions informative and educational".

Trailblazers Windsor 2010

For 95% of the girls who completed the evaluation, Trailblazers exposed them to new areas of law.  Several girls indicated that the women on the discussion panel were interesting but "also gave insight into the challenges they have had to overcome".  Some commented that they enjoyed the opportunity they were given to talk about their opinions.

Thanks to LEAF Windsor and OJEN - Ontario Justice Education Network who worked so hard to make the day such a success!

Celebrate LEAF

25-Years of Progress Because of Supporters Like You!

 LEAF 25th banner logo

LEAF is best described as a small but mighty women's organization. With a handful of staff members, twelve volunteers who serve on its board of directors, and six volunteer committees focused on specific issues, we work to ensure that equality rights are both won and sustained.  This is LEAF's 25th Anniversary year.  It has been one of unparalleled successes.  We have launched Equality Rights Central, held a Youth Commission and gained intervener status in ten court cases.

 

But at a time when we see our work flourishing, we find ourselves exposed to the threat of dwindling resources.  Recent years have brought a severe economic slump to Canadian charities, with 25 percent fewer Canadians making charitable donations.  Add the deep cuts in funding to women's organizations by the federal government, and a situation emerges where LEAF must fundraise even more diligently while tightening its belt to offset potential deficits.

 

Our donors have always been a central part of the LEAF family, but never more so than now.  At this time, we must appeal to those who are in a position to give more, or to give for the first time.  Your help is crucial if we are to fill current funding gaps at LEAF.  Please show your support for the work we must accomplish in the year ahead with a generous year end contribution.  And, if you are not currently giving through a monthly donation, consider joining me as a monthly donor -- it's one of the very best ways to further your support of LEAF.

 

If circumstances allow, we also challenge you to make a $250 year end donation in honour of our 25th Anniversary Year.  Or, you can choose another multiple of $25 ($200, $175, $150, etc.).  Each and every donation, whether spread over monthly payments or given in a lump sum now, will add to our success in the year ahead.  Visit the LEAF website to make your donation, and receive an instant charitable tax receipt. 

 

Thank you sincerely for your interest in all things "LEAF".  We strengthen our cause when we give and work together. 

 

Best wishes to you and your loved ones during this holiday season.

Marilyn R signature

Marilyn Roycroft, Chair, Fund Development Committee

LEAF to Welcome New Executive Director in 2011

Change is never easy, even for an established and successful organization in the midst of its 25th Anniversary Year.  At this time, I regret to inform you that as of the end of November, Audrey Johnson, our National Executive Director has left LEAF.  Her five year tenure at LEAF marked a time of expansion and Audrey leaves a very different organization than she entered:  our litigation is again flourishing, we have an active education program and we have welcomed three new branches to our family.  We thank Audrey for her contributions to LEAF National, and wish her all the best in her future career endeavours.

 

In the weeks immediately ahead, our work to achieve substantive equality for women and girls in Canada through legal advocacy, research and education, will be continued through the on-going leadership of our Director of Litigation, Joanna Birenbaum, and Interim Executive Director, Pauline Raven.  Pauline is a former member of LEAF's National Board.  She brings to LEAF many years of experience as an executive director and is recognized for exemplary work in organizational development, fundraising and financial management.  Pauline is working alongside other staff members to ensure LEAF's equality litigation, our Youth Commission and our community outreach and educational programs will continue.  During the course of 2010, LEAF will have made six appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada and provincial appellate courts and 2011 promises to be equally busy.

 

A search for a new LEAF National Executive Director is now underway.  When she joins us, our new Executive Director will find a strong donor base, dedicated staff, committed volunteers, a supportive board of directors and a national network of branches (St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, Ottawa, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton),  and a strong affiliate (West Coast LEAF in British Columbia) with which to collaborate.  We truly have an amazing group of women collaborating to produce remarkable work that benefits all women and girls in Canada.

 

Tremendous thanks are owed to each member of the LEAF family for our many successes. On behalf of all directors, I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and look forward to the 2011 LEAF Year with eager anticipation of what we will accomplish together.

 

Warm regards,

Jennifer Tomaszewski,

Chair, National Board of Directors

Teacher Association Conference

Ontario History and Social Science Teachers Association (OHASSTA) invited LEAF to be a guest speaker and workshop presenter on November 5th and 6th. Niki Popper, LEAF Education Coordinator, delivered an informational professional development workshop on social justice and equality rights issues.  Many of the 375 Teachers who attended the conference received information on LEAF Education programs and resources.

Teacher Assoc Conf guest and Niki Popper
Conference guest (left) with Niki Popper (right)

Niki also gave a workshop at the Ontario Family Studies Home Economics Educations Association (OFSHEEA) on November 6th. LEAF's resources and materials were well received by the 260 teachers who took part in this professional development event.

 

Comments made by the teachers at the conference workshops indicated LEAF had:  provided an interesting venue for professional development; for increasing knowledge; and, for learning about ways to expose students to a wider range of justice issues.  Most of the teachers reported that the session was "extremely relevant", and that it "greatly increased [their] capacity to teach students".  Half of the workshop participants noted that the session "should be longer", so they could "have more time for activities".

Speakers Bureau

The Speakers Bureau is busy scheduling speaking engagements at universities, schools and community organizations and to faith groups.  LEAF is looking forward to many more in 2011.  

 

Schedule a LEAF speaker by contacting [email protected]

 

Visit www.leaf.ca/speakers for more information.

LEAF Calgary

Niki Popper, the LEAF Education Coordinator, and LEAF Edmonton volunteers traveled to Calgary to help LEAF Calgary prepare to deliver LEAF at Work and the No Means No program.  LEAF Calgary will start delivery of both programs immediately with a curriculum that has been adapted to meet the specific needs of Albertans.

 

Calgary Trailblazers 2010

An Alberta focused LEAF at Work Brochure is now available.  It provides information about accessing resources in local communities. Thanks to all of the volunteers who took part in the training, research and coordination. A special thanks to Tara Fry for making this possible. 

Trailblazers Calgary group  Trailblazers Calgary speaking

Evaluation forms from participants said that the most important thing learned was "the confidence for facilitating future workshops", and "problem solving skills".  Another commented, "the icebreakers were very helpful to get me thinking about my own views and how to be respectful of others".

LEAF Toronto Persons Day Breakfast

By Marilyn Roycroft

 

 persons day breakfast logo

  

 

 

Over 700 people crowded into the downtown Toronto Sheraton for an early morning breakfast October 29 to celebrate not only Persons Day, but LEAF's 25th Anniversary Year too.  

Toronto PDB 2010 participants

Barbara Budd, former co-host of CBC Radio's "As It Happens", welcomed everyone.   Along with Toronto lawyer and LEAF founder Beth Symes they talked about LEAF's beginnings and its many successes over the past 25 years. 

J. Nichole Noel, a spoken word artist and singer, inspired with a presentation called "Let Not Our Voices Go Unheard".   Guest speaker Deena Ladd, coordinator of the Workers' Action Centre serving immigrant and migrant workers, particularly low wage earning women in downtown Toronto, provided stories of the women's challenges and successes along with suggestions for action.

Rhonda Roffey, executive director of Women's Habitat Etobicoke, closed the event with a fundraising appeal and a big thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors.

Toronto PDB speakers    Toronto PDB 2010 group shot    Toronto PDB 2010 T-shirt

LEAF Toronto would like to give special thanks to Presenting Sponsor Toronto Dominion Financial Group; Advocate Sponsor C. A. Delaney Capital; and Patron Sponsors the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, Koskie Minsky LLP, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the Bank of Montreal Financial Group, The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain and Senator Nancy Ruth.  Finally, Trip Sponsor Transat Holidays gave the breakfast attendees a possibility of a holiday treat as well.

As part of this year's Persons Day celebrations, the Ontario Justice Education Network, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and LEAF National held an event for young women interested in the law.  "Trailblazers: Meeting Women in Law" was a day-long educational opportunity for 100 high schools students from across Ontario.

Thanks to Blakes, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Miller Thomson LLP, Stikeman Elliot LLP, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Goodmans, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Court of Appeal for Ontario for their support and participation.

LEAF Edmonton Persons Day Breakfast

About 200 people attended LEAF Edmonton's 25th anniversary Person's Day breakfast on October 13 at Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel. Our guest speaker was Marilou McPhedran who is a human rights lawyer, a founding member of LEAF, and has been at the helm of LEAF National and the LEAF Foundation.  She spoke on "LEAF 25 years on - beacon or laser?", and took a close look at wins and losses of LEAF in the quest for women's equality.  She concluded that LEAF is, and will continue to be, a beacon for the future of justice  in Canada.

 Marilou McPhderan   Jennifer Tomaszewski   Patricia Paradis

    Dr. Marilou                     Jennifer                Patricia Paradis

    McPhedran                Tomaszewski                 

 

In addition to the presentation by Dr. McPhedran, Jennifer Tomaszewski, Chair of the LEAF National Board and a LEAF Edmonton member, gave an update on recent National activities.  The LEAF Lifetime Recognition award was presented by Marie Gordon to Patricia Paradis who has been a member since 1990. From 1995-1999, she was national Chair of LEAF and chaired the Strategic Planning Committee for five years.  This year she has been the Chair of LEAF's National 25th anniversary committee.

 

Patricia also served as legal counsel for LEAF in the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal's Aryan Nations Inquiry in 1991.  Most recently, she contributed to a submission by LEAF to a Parliamentary committee reviewing s.13, the hate speech provision of the Canadian Human Rights Act. At the local level she has served as Chair of the LEAF Edmonton Board, Chair of the Education Committee and Chair of the Persons Day Breakfast, and Strategic Planning Committee for five years.

LEAF Halifax Persons Day Breakfast

This year's Halifax Persons Day Breakfast was the most successful to date  ̶  we sold 100 seats!

 

Overlooking the 'Arm' of Halifax harbour, guests enjoyed a locally sourced breakfast. 

 Halifax PDB 2010  LEAF Halifax PDB organizers 2010

Our emcee, Kim Brooks, Dean of the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, and former Chair of LEAF, spoke about the extensive work of the National Law Program Committee.

LEAF Halifax PDB 2010 room  Halifax PDB 2010 room
Local lawyer Naiomi Metallic, of Burchells LLP, and a member of the LEAF National Law Program Committee, delivered a fantastic speech about the top five Aboriginal Law Issues in Canada, managing to explain a disturbing reality while inspiring us all. 

 

We look forward to seeing everyone at our 2011 Persons Day Breakfast.

LEAF Sudbury Persons Day Breakfast

By Tannys Laughre, Co-Chair LEAF Sudbury

 

On October 21, LEAF Sudbury celebrated Persons Day with the premiere of Laura Sky's documentary "Recovering Love".  This powerful film about addictions highlights the challenges women with addictions face daily; their courage and the factors that underlie women's addictions. The film is one of transformational journeys for not only the women featured, but their children and support networks. Parts of the documentary were filmed in Sudbury and featured a local recovery centre.  Additionally, a former LEAF Sudbury committee member, Diane Massicotte, was the executive producer.

Laura Sky with Sudbury participants

Laura Sky with participants and their children

at the film premiere

The evening was both poignant and personal with many of the film's participants in attendance.  After a LEAF update by the Sudbury committee, Laura Sky, director of the film introduced 'Recovering Love' to a full house.  Laura is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker, and holds a honourary degree from Laurentian University. She is also a recipient of the Toronto YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. Immediately following the film there was a reception where LEAF supporters were able to mingle with Laura as well as the women in the film.

 

LEAF Sudbury celebrated the documentary, the work of their local recovery centre, and the courage of the women featured in 'Recovering Love' by purchasing copies of this transformational documentary for distribution to the Greater Sudbury Public Libraries.

Kaija Mailloux

 

Pictured right is Kaija Mailloux (LEAF

Committee member) presenting

the Greater Public Library with copies

of the documentary.

 

 

Mad Men:  Pay Equity, Then and Now

By Bonnie Husain 

"What do you do around here besides walking around trying to get raped?" 

 

This line, taken from an episode of TV's popular Mad Men, suggests that women back in the 1960's were not always treated with respect at work.  Even if you have not seen Mad Men, you have likely experienced its pervasive influence on pop culture, from skinny men's ties to retro-inspired cocktails.  In this popular series, the booze-soaked alpha-male is king and women are either holding down a support position, or, more than likely, at home with their children.

 

True fans of Mad Men can be described as a pretty elite group of individuals, with almost half earning more than $100,000 annually, according to TV Week.  Historian Jonathan Zimmerman says that this group of opinion leaders views the show in a self-congratulatory manner, metaphorically patting themselves on the back for the progress they have made. We will have a look back to see just how far we have come and ask:  "Have we come a long way?"

 

When we look at all earners' average income, women's incomes, as a percentage of men's, are much lower, according to Staloonietistics Canada.  In 1967, women earned 46.1% of men's income.  In 2008, women's income was 64.5% of men's, still lower, but indicating some progress.  This change is probably not surprising to some of us.  It didn't happen accidentally.  Between 1960 and 1970, at least one million women entered the workforce in Canada.  This trend can be partly accounted for by the introduction of time-saving appliances into the home, maternity leave, changing attitudes and, yes, the birth control pill, that allowed births to be timed to coincide with women's need or desire to be outside the home.

 

To top it all off, restrictions were removed that had previously prevented married women from working in the federal public service.  Women not only wanted to work, they wanted pay equity and their demands made it happen.  In the late 1980's and early 1990's pay equity legislation was finally adopted in a number of provinces in Canada.  In addition to this provincial legislation, Section 15 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, enshrining women's equality rights, was finally legislated in 1985, thanks to women like LEAF's founding mothers.

 

We can't ignore how strongly motherhood impacts this pay equity ratio. In a new TD Economics Report, women are absent 3% per year because of family or motherhood responsibilities.  Women are often the primary caregivers in their families, leaving them with the short end of the stick economically.  Some research suggests that a frequency of entry and exit from the workforce might reflect the degree of attachment to the employer, unfairly resulting in lower wages for women.

 

Unfortunately, the reasons for disparity in wages between men and women don't stop there.  The Journal of Applied Psychology released a study this month revealing that thin women earn more money than women of average weight or obese women.  The study claims that a woman who is 30 lbs. below the average weight for women will benefit by earning at least $10,000 more than women of average weight. Conversely, a woman weighing 30 lbs. more than the average woman will earn almost $10,000 less than a woman of average weight.  Interestingly, the study also indicated that men were rewarded for higher than average weight.  Some have suggested that by being weight-conscious, a woman may be perceived as having more energy or having an understanding of the importance of image as it may apply to a higher pay level.

 

Pay equity clearly remains a problem in 2010, for reasons we may not even be conscious of.

 

We need to keep this issue at the forefront of the women's equality struggle.  Research that Science Daily released in 2008 is both fascinating and disturbing.  It shows how sexism can result in higher salaries for men.  It found that men who believe in traditional roles for women earn on average $8,500 more than men who hold more egalitarian views.

 

canadian billsAlthough as a society we value pay equity, some traditional men's views are working against this goal. Yes, women have made great progress since the days of Mad Men, but don't open the champagne yet. Since the 1960's, more women have entered the workforce and their incomes, as a percentage of men's, have significantly improved over time.  But major barriers still restrict women from obtaining true pay equity in our society.  Women's role as primary caregivers to children and parents is a key cause of discrimination.  Most barriers to pay equity are deep-rooted in our society and attitudes are difficult to change.

 

What can individual women do to avoid having an unwanted statistic attached to their earnings? Research indicates that women should obtain a university education.  According to a recent Statistics Canada report, the income gap narrows as women become more educated.

 

Real change means acting together.  We can be advocates within or outside the workplace.  National advocacy groups include LEAF, the National Council of Women and National Watch on Images of Women in the Media.  Together we can make sure women achieve equal pay. Then, the celebration can truly begin.

 

References:

 

Wright, Lisa. "'Motherhood Gap In Wages Hits Women Hard." The Star 14 Oct. 2010. 12 Oct. 2010  (click for link) 

 

Average Earnings By Sex and Work Pattern. 30 Sep. 2010. Statistics Canada. 17 June 2010 (click for link) 

 

Cara, Williams. "Canadian Social Trends."Statistics Canada 14 Oct. 2010. 1 Dec. 2000 (click for link)

  

Venezia, T., Rosenberg, R., Goldhagen, S.. "Thin Gals, Fat Pay." New York Post 8 Oct. 2010. 8 Oct.2010  (click for link)

 

American Psychological Association (2008, September 22). Sexism Pays: Men Who Hold Traditional Views Of Women Earn More Than Men Who Don't, Study Shows. Science Daily. Retrieved October 17, 2010 (click for link) 

 

Recent Social Trends in Canada, 1960-2000. Lance W. Roberts. An encyclopaedic reference work on Canadian society that charts changes to the social landscape. ...mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=1906

 

Roberts, Lance W. Recent Social Trends in Canada, 1960-2000 . Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2005. books.google.com. McGill-Queens University Press. 15 Oct. 2010  (click for link)

 

Women's Legal Education and Action Fund. (2009). Pay Equity [Brochure]. Zimmerman, Jonathan. "Touchy-Feely 'Mad Men'?." The Christian Science Monitor. 17 Oct. 2010. 25 Feb. 2009  (click for link)

 

THR, . "While 'Mad Men' Draws Wealthy Viewers, the Program Draws Lower Ad Rates than 'Burn Notice'." TV Bizwire. 17 Oct. 2010. TV Week (click for link)

R. v. J.A.

LEAF Intervention at the Supreme Court of Canada

Legal

On November 8, 2010, LEAF made oral arguments in the Supreme Court of Canada on the issue of consent in sexual assault.  The case, R. v. J.A., raised the issue of whether a woman can consent in advance, to sexual activity when she is unconscious.

The facts of the case involved a 22-year-old woman who was in a common-law relationship with a man who had been convicted twice before of abusing her.  The complainant reported that the accused had strangled her into unconsciousness and then bound and anally penetrated her with a dildo.  The accused's defence was that the complainant had consented in advance to the strangulation and anal penetration.  The accused's lawyer argued that adult couples should be left alone to have "spicy sex" if they so choose, and argued that making "advance consent" illegal would criminalize men who sexually touch their sleeping partner.

LEAF's intervention focused the Court's attention on the current meaning of consent in Canadian law - that consent, by definition, means that a woman can say "no" at any time.  LEAF argued that a change in the concept of consent to include "advance consent", would mean that a woman's earlier "yes" would continue, even after she becomes unconscious, extremely intoxicated, or otherwise unable to say "no".  

LEAF further argued that such a change in the legal definition of consent would be dangerous and regressive, especially for extremely vulnerable women such as women with disabilities and aboriginal women, as well as those who have been drugged, or who have become intoxicated.  In addition, LEAF submitted to the Court that the recognition of "advance consent" will effectively revive the marital rape exemption, which assumed that wives and intimate partners have given ongoing consent to sex, as a result of the nature of these types of relationships. 

LEAF urged the Court to maintain the existing law of consent, which requires a man to ensure his partner is consenting to sex.  LEAF argued that "advance consent" would effectively re-introduce the discredited notion of "implied" consent into Canadian law and would gut Parliament's carefully legislated definition of consent in the Criminal Code, which was drafted to protect women and to ensure that consent to sex is always voluntary, active and ongoing.

Susan Chapman and Elizabeth Sheehy represented LEAF at the hearing.

Equality Rights Central

In the month following the September, 2010, launch ofEquality Rights Central the Equality Rights Central (ERC) website, a collaboration between LEAF and Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) was finalized.  This is LEAF's first national project with PBSC.  The focus for this first academic year is enlisting student volunteers to contribute to the ERC.

 

Eighteen law schools and over 40 students across the country are participating this term.  Two more law schools, Laval and University of New Brunswick, are scheduled to join the project in January.  Training materials were sent to students in late October, and two conference calls were conducted in early November to explain the project and its expectations to the students.

 

The concept of substantive equality, the goals of the ERC, and LEAF's role in winning and sustaining women's equality were explained and discussed with students by Tamar Witelson, LEAF's staff lawyer. Students are now monitoring local and national news, as well as the internet, for equality related cases and legislation.

 

The ERC works like this... Students are asked to submit an equality-related news article or website link once a week for the first month, as possible posts on the ERC website.  This logues ideas of cases and legislative initiatives that students can write about as updates, summaries and comments on the ERC.

 

By November's end, the project had gotten off to a strong start.  Student submissions are providing news articles, links, and events, and new posts are being made on the ERC daily.  In addition, six substantive writing pieces have been assigned.  Topics include a report on polygamy by the Conseil du Statut de la Femme du Qu�bec; Bill C-49 on human smuggling; the Saskatchewan Marriage Reference; a Charter challenge to electoral rules; and human rights limits on hate speech.

 Ways to Support LEAF
We are now almost three quarters of the way through LEAF's 25th Anniversary Year.  Help us celebrate with a donation in honour of this very special year.

 

The goal of our founding mothers, 25-years ago, was to ensure that equality rights guaranteed under the Canadian Constitution's newly enacted Section 15 were indeed honoured by the courts.  LEAF, side by side with its allies, has actively, and successfully, pursued that goal every year since 1985.  Our anniversary year has brought unparalleled success to LEAF's efforts.  The work is not over.  We can't stop now!hand signing

 

Giving monthly is the most effective way to ensure LEAF's sustainability and the struggle for women's equality across the country.  

 

Please give generously by visiting our website and donating on-line.  If you prefer another route for your donation, please call LEAF at 1-416-595-7191 or 1-888-824-5323 and ask to speak with Via Kurlinas. 

 

For donations received before December 31, a 2010 tax receipt will be issued.  Give yourself a tax break as a gift this Holiday Season.

Sincerely,



[email protected]