Ottawa Women's Lobby (OWL)

Corporate body

Ottawa Women's Lobby (OWL)

1977-[199-]

The Ottawa Women’s Lobby (OWL) was a feminist advocacy organization founded as a member group of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) by Shirley Greenberg in 1977. OWL lobbied the municipal, provincial and federal governments to fight for equality for women in all aspects of Canadian life. The organization consisted of women from various occupations and backgrounds. In addition to Shirley Greenberg, the members of OWL throughout the group's founding/early years (1970s) consisted of: Kay Marshall, Lynn Kaye, Rosemary Billings, Diana Pepall, Mary Ambrose, Pat Hacker, John Baglow, Carole Swan, Helene Doyon, Sheila Klein, and Monica Townson. OWL remained active until the 1990's, but past members continue to hold semi-annual social meetings, which facilitate spirited debates.
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Le Lobby des femmes d'Ottawa (FLO) est une organisation féministe de défense des droits fondée en 1977 par Shirley Greenberg en tant que groupe membre du Comité national d'action sur le statut de la femme (CNA). L'OWL a fait pression sur les gouvernements municipaux, provinciaux et fédéral pour lutter en faveur de l'égalité des femmes dans tous les aspects de la vie canadienne. L'organisation est composée de femmes issues de professions et d'horizons divers. Outre Shirley Greenberg, les membres de l'OWL au cours de ses premières années d'existence (années 1970) étaient les suivants : Kay Marshall, Lynn Kaye, Rosemary Billings, Diana Pepall, Mary Ambrose, Pat Hacker, John Baglow, Carole Swan, Helene Doyon, Sheila Klein et Monica Townson. L'OWL est resté actif jusque dans les années 1990, mais les anciens membres continuent d'organiser des réunions sociales semestrielles, qui donnent lieu à des débats animés.

Among their many objectives, OWL aimed to help support women in assuming control of their own lives, lobby for change in laws and government policies, provide an open forum to exchange information and views on issues affecting women, and to encourage women to take positions of responsibility in both the public and private sectors. OWL was also comprised of committees to help achieve their aims, including a Steering Committee, Membership Committee, NAC Liasons, and Issue (Policy) Committees. Likewise, the organization held numerous meetings where they discussed important topics, such as: daycare, pornography, equal pay, pensions, divorce, health care, financial support for women's shelters, women in poverty, violence against women and children, etc.

Gleaned from the material within the fonds.