OPSEU Women’s Conference
Eaton Chelsea, 33 Gerrard Street West
Toronto, M5G 1Z4
November 8 – 10, 2013
June 2013
Dear Members:
The OPSEU Provincial Women’s Committee invites applications for the 2013
Women’s Conference – A Woman’s Journey: The Art of the Possible! In addition
to welcoming previous conference participants, we would like to extend a special
invitation to those who have not attended in the past. We look forward to meeting
all of you.
This year’s conference promises to be particularly exciting. We are pleased to
present a thought-provoking roster of speakers, panel discussions, artists and films
in relation to the conference theme. Our goal is for you to go home with ideas for
immediate action in your communities. We are looking for a rich mix of diverse
backgrounds and points of view among conference participants.
The goal of the conference is to educate and raise awareness on the following
areas:
1. First Nations women
2. Poverty and violence against women
3. Politics and women
4. Social change and women
Don’t miss this opportunity to network, learn, share experiences and have some
fun. Please join us as we enjoy the camaraderie of our peers from across the
province. With your participation, passion and insight we can make this one of the
best women’s conferences yet!
Please submit a completed application form to the Equity Unit by e-mail or
fax, no later than midnight on Monday August 19, 2013. Please also note that
we will be using an anonymous selection process and will apply the criteria for
selection as set out on pages 4 and 5 of this application. Incomplete applications
will not be considered.
We look forward to meeting you at the conference!
In solidarity,
Provincial Women’s Committee
Distributed with permission:
Warren (Smokey) Thomas – President
Page 2 of 5
All applications must be received no later than midnight, Monday August 19, 2013
E-mail to equity@opseu.org or Fax to 416-448-7419
Tentative Conference Outline
Friday, November 8, 2013
5:00 – 7:00 pm Registration (dinner not provided)
5:00 – 9:00 pm International Marketplace
5:30 – 6:00 pm Smudging
7:00 – 7:30 pm Plenary
7:30 – 9:00 pm International Artists and Performers (artists, performers and
vendors related to social justice)
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Sunrise Smudging
8:00 – 9: 00 am Breakfast (not provided)
9:00 – 11:0 am Morning Plenary
Guest Speaker, First Nations Women
11:00 – 11:15am Break
11:15 – 12:30 pm Panel Discussion, Poverty and Violence Against Women or
Good Women in Politics
12:30 – 1:45 pm Lunch (provided)
1:45 – 3:00 pm Panel Discussion, Poverty and Violence Against Women or
Good Women in Politics
3:00 – 3:15pm Break
3:15 – 4:30 pm Guest Speaker, The Art of the Possible!
4:30 – 7:30 pm Respite (dinner on your own)
7:30 – 9:00 pm Movie Night (Miss Representation)
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Sunrise Smudging
8:00 – 9:00 am Breakfast (on your own)
9:00 – 10:30 am Film (Solar Mamas)
10:30 – 10:45am Break
10:45 – 12:00 pm Wrap up and evaluation
12:15 – 12:30 pm Smudging
OPSEU Women’s Conference
Eaton Chelsea, 33 Gerrard Street West
Toronto, M5G 1Z4
November 8 – 10, 2013
Page 3 of 5
All applications must be received no later than midnight Monday August 19, 2013
E-mail to equity@opseu.org or Fax to 416-448-7419
APPLICATION FORM
(Please Print or Type)
Applicant Number (to be assigned by the Equity Unit): ______________________
Personal
Information
Local #:___________ Union #________________
Name:_____________________________________________
Last First
Home Address:_____________________________________
__________________________________________________
Home Phone: _____________ Work Phone: ______________
Cell Phone: ______________
Email Address: _____________________________________
Sector
_____OPS ______BPS _____CAAT-A _____CAAT-S
Hotel
A block of rooms will be held for participants at the Eaton
Chelsea (33 Gerrard Street West) until October 9, 2013.
Information about hotel reservations upon completion of the
selection process.
Members are responsible for making their own accommodation
arrangements. Hotel expenses are paid on a shared room cost
basis based on the OPSEU rate. The 60km rule has been
waived for this event as per policy.
Car Pooling
Are you able to offer a ride? ___ Do you need to carpool? ___
Human Rights
Accommodation
Required?
_____ Yes _____ No
Childcare
Required?
_____ Yes _____ No
Advance Letter
Required?
_____ Yes _____ No
Time Off Letter
Required?
_____ Yes _____ No
Page 4 of 5
All applications must be received no later than midnight, Monday August 19, 2013
E-mail to equity@opseu.org or Fax to 416-448-7419
APPLICATION – continued
Applicant Number (to be assigned by the Equity Unit): ______________________
Spaces available for members attending the Conference will be divided evenly
among OPSEU’s 7 regions. The selection committee will try to ensure that
participants represent the diversity of identities and experience in OPSEU, based
on the following considerations:
1. Which of the following groups do you identify with? (please select all
boxes that apply):
Male
Female
A racialized person (a person who considers themselves “Black” and/or
whose heritage is South East Asian, North East Asian, South Asian, West
Asian, African, Caribbean or “mixed race”)
A non-racialized person (a person who considers themselves “White”,
and/or whose heritage is Canadian, American, Eastern or Western
European, Australian, New Zealand)
Francophone (a person whose first language is French, and who still
speaks French)
A person of aboriginal ancestry (Métis, Inuit or First Nations)
A person with a disability (a person with a disability based on a long term
or recurring physical, mental, sensory, mental health/emotional disability or
learning impairment)
An able-bodied person (a person without a physical/sensory,
mental/emotional, or learning disability)
A younger worker (e.g. a person under 30 years of age)
An older worker (e.g. a person over 50 years of age)
Gay (males with an orientation exclusively to males)
Bisexual (persons who have an orientation to more than one sex)
Lesbian (females with an orientation exclusively to females)
Questioning (persons who are unsure of their sexual orientation)
Two Spirited (a term specific to Aboriginal people)
Gender Variant (persons who are transgendered, transsexual or intersexed)
Heterosexual (persons who have an orientation to the opposite sex)
2. Have you attended the OPSEU Women’s Conference in the past?
Yes No
3. Are you active in OPSEU (e.g. elected to union position)?
Yes No
OPSEU Women’s Conference
Eaton Chelsea, 33 Gerrard Street West
Toronto, M5G 1Z4
November 8 – 10, 2013
Page 5 of 5
All applications must be received no later than midnight Monday August 19, 2013
E-mail to equity@opseu.org or Fax to 416-448-7419
4. Are you active in the community (e.g. Volunteer at a community agency or
religious organization?)
Yes No
5. If you are active in OPSEU and/or the community, please tell us what you
do.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
6. In a few words, please tell us why you would like to attend this event.
(You might want to consider addressing the following in your answer – your
previous union or community-based experience; your particular passion or
interest in equity and human rights issues and how the conference relates to
your union or community work.)
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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Jul 02