On Monday, November 27, 2023, Zonta club members gathered at City Hall and were joined by City of Owen Sound staff and others, including city Mayor Ian Boddy and Deputy Mayor Scott Greig, to recognize International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.  Deputy Mayor Scott Greig welcomed attendees, providing opening remarks as the Zonta Flag was presented by the Zontians of Owen Sound as part of the campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls. Deputy Mayor Greig highlighted some of the work of the club and noted the international importance of Zonta as well.  Club President Barb Fedy then spoke to the 16 Days of Advocacy for the “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women and Girls” campaign, where Zonta International envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.

Attendees were thanked for their commitment, Zonta of Owen Sound appreciates the support and allyship to improve the lives of women and girls, and achieving equity overall.

Barb Fedy’s Speech at the Flag Raising:

For more than 100 years, Zonta International has contributed to help achieve a world free of violence against women and girls through service and advocacy. Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations and a global epidemic. It knows no national or cultural barriers; it takes place at home, in the workplace and in open spaces, and affects millions of women and girls in peacetime and conflict. It includes psychological, physical, and sexual violence, and harmful practices such as rape, female genital cutting, child marriage and human trafficking. Violence against women and girls threatens countries, inhibits economic progress, and prevents women from contributing to their community and creating better lives for themselves and their
families.

Our ongoing Service efforts are demonstrated through numerous local projects and programs right here in Owen Sound and area, through Zonta International’s service projects worldwide, and through Zonta’s partnerships with the United Nations and its agencies. Our ongoing Advocacy impact is built around the advocacy campaign “Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women”.  It is acknowledged that women in particular, were affected by Covid 19 in so many ways (through isolation, job loss/ income loss, and homeschooling requirements, just to name a few), resulting in unprecedented mental health impacts.
Did you know?
Since the pandemic began…
● 45% of women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced a
form of VAWG.
● 7 in 10 women said they think that verbal or physical abuse by a partner
has become more common.
● 6 in 10 felt that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened.
(Source: UN Women 2021)

Through the Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women campaign, our members and allies stand together, uniting our voices to advocate for all those who have suffered gender-based violence. Zonta is needed now, more than ever, to continue its work to end violence and build a
better world for women and girls”.

November 25th, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marks the launch of 16 days of activism, concluding on the day that commemorates the International Human Rights Day (10 December). This campaign, led by the UN Secretary-General and UN Women since 2008, aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world, calling for global action to increase awareness, promote advocacy and create opportunities
for discussion on challenges and solutions. The aim is to mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women’s rights and calling for a world free from VAWG. Violence against women remains one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today. Unfortunately, it remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

June 15, 2023

Congratulations to Coble Golf Course Members Linda Taylor, Jane Falls, Liz Gillies and Deborah Reesor on winning the Annual Ladies’ Golf Classic presented by Zonta at Legacy Ridge last week.

Many clubs were represented, and their score for the 9-hole best ball scramble was 35.

Great game ladies! Way to support a great cause as well.

Save the Date – Thursday June 13, 2024 – Golf Classic

 Members attend the Spring Workshops

Zonta Raises their Flag at City Hall

Arlene Wright andd Judy Suke at the flag pole. 

On November 25, 2022, the members of Zonta Owen Sound and Area presented the Zonta Flag as part of the UNITE! Activism Campaign to End Violence against Women and Girls.

The honor of raising the flag at City Hall was given to Arlene Wright, Past-President and charter member of the Owen Sound Zonta Chapter, founded in 1986.  The members of the organization volunteer their time, talents and energy to local and international advocacy and service projects that are designed to advance the status of women worldwide.

On behalf of City Council, City Councilor Brock Hamley thanked the members of Zonta for their work in the community and stressed the need to continue their efforts.

John Farmer, City Councilor, and former coordinator for Violence Prevention Grey-Bruce spoke to the group about the need to end the violence that continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights.

Zonta Vice-President, Judy Suke, delivered a message emphasizing the importance of staying vigilant. According to UN Women, a survey done in 2021 revealed that, since the pandemic began, 45% of women reported that they or someone they know has experienced some form of violence; 7 in 10 women said they think that verbal or physical abuse by a partner has become more common; and 6 in 10 felt that sexual harassment in public spaces has worsened.

November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will mark the launch of the UNITE! Campaign – an initiative of 16 days of activism concluding on the International Human Rights Day, December 10. This campaign, led by the UN Secretary-General and UN Women since 2008, aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world, calling for global action to increase awareness, promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions. This years’ campaign will aim to mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women’s rights and calling for a world free from violence against women and girls.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today, yet it remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

Our Zonta Flag is raised at City Hall to remind everyone that we all need to be aware and support efforts in our area to end the violence.

For more information on our local Zonta Chapter visit www.zontaowensound.ca

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Celebrating Zonta International 103rd Anniversary November 16,  2022

First Dinner Meeting in September 2022

 Installation of New Officers:      President – Barb Fedy

                                                                               Vice-President – Judy Suke

                                                                       Secretary – Sandy Stevenson

                                                                       Treasurer – Ann Dumyn

On October 20th, 2021, we celebrated our 35th Anniversary of our Zonta Club in Owen Sound. Pictured below (centre picture) are two of the founding members: Eleanor Tannahill and Arlene Wright.