PCWO 92nd AGM - April 2015
Report to Toronto and Area Council of Women: Provincial Council of Women of Ontario
92nd Annual General Meeting, April 24-26, 2015
The PCWO held their Annual Meeting at the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre. The theme this year is: Child Care - Safe? Affordable? Universal?
The two delegates were Carol Canzona, who is also a PCWO Board member, and myself, Connie Zboch.
Mary Potter, president of PCWO opened the meeting at 9:00 am, There were fifteen registrants present: the Board members, all returned by
acclamation; three local councils - St. Catherine’s, Ottawa and Toronto; from the Provincially Organized Societies two delegates (Toronto and London);
the Business and Professional Women; and one delegate from the Ontario and Home Economics Association (Toronto).
After the Order of the meeting the various vice-presidents, delegates presented Reports, highlighting many of many aspects of their Annual Reports, which I'm presenting to TACW and urge members to read. Regarding the annual report our president Jacqueline Truax submitted, I talked about the visit and article by columnist Joe Fiorito. The Resolutions we read in March were all discussed and received approval. These will be presented to the members of the Ontario Legislature at the PCWO semi-annual meeting at Queen's Park in the Fall.
The Guest Speaker was Carolyn Ferns, Coordinator of Public Policy and Government Relations of Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare. The other speaker was a registered Child Care Worker. Carolyn spoke that Child Care matters to everyone and everyone depends on someone who depends on Child Care. A goal for the coalition to 2020 is “from Child Care Vision to Action." She urged us to vote for individual candidates in elections who care about this issue: co-operatives, volunteers, unlicensed Day Care, etc.
Luka Podolsky, VP for Seniors’ Issues spoke on End of Life Care, senior housing and homecare. She mention there is a 12-page booklet available in pharmacies: “Dying in Dignity - Health Canada’ covering topics such as medical intervention at end of life; prolonging life only for a week or two; hospitals discharging seniors and 'In and Out of Hospital' problem. She said government should publicize that a patient can refuse to go home if there is no care for them there. It is better to look at this situation before we need it and plan with family.
Carol Canzona has two reports in the PCWO Annual Report of 2014-2015. One, as president of the Oakville and Area Study Group, and the other as PCWO VP of Membership. She is hopeful that "the huge potential related to the increasing members of boomers' entering into retirement or partial retirement" will realize (with our encouragement) the "physical and mental health benefits of volunteering." Amen.
Thelma McGillivray, VP Education spoke of her Study Group in Burlington where they found the Ontario government wants to sell off three long-term housing buildings for $150,000,000.00 - in Hamilton, Toronto and Niagara Falls. Since 1 in 8 senior citizens may need long-term care, this is not good planning. Ottawa is also short of Homes. Problem is, who has land to provide for housing (e.g. churches)?
There was a good discussion on all topics presented.
In the late afternoon we had a fun Auction Sale with the lovely items donated by the delegates.
The dinner in the evening was also lightened by two Storytellers - Anna Kentz and June Brown who gave a new version of 'Rapunzel' from two perspectives and had us all spellbound.
It was an informative meeting on the given topics and the Business and Professional Women's work as well as the Home Economics Assoc. outreach to teach us all nutrition and health.
Thank you for the privilege to be your delegate.
Connie Zboch, president