What is the Women’s Advocate Program?
The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) has established the Women’s Advocate Program to support members experiencing workplace sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and abuse.
This initiative trains up to five Women’s Advocates in each district to assist affected members by assessing immediate needs, offering information on local resources, and identifying potential impacts on colleagues.
Advocates also guide members in navigating services provided by employers, government agencies, and community organizations.
While not professional counselors, they serve as crucial support, fostering a safe and respectful environment within the union.
The program acknowledges that men, trans, and non-binary individuals can also face such challenges and extends support to all members.
Additionally, Advocates can assist those concerned about colleagues and work with employers to develop safety plans. Increasing awareness of the program has led to greater engagement, enhancing member safety and well-being.
From the Education Forum
From the OSSTF website.
Why do we need a Women’s Advocate program?
Our union has a strong history of supporting women and the issues they face in their workplaces and their
communities. The research is clear. Domestic violence has a devastating effect on women in the workplace.
• 1 in 3 workers have experienced domestic violence;
• 82% of those workers reported that domestic violence had negatively affected their work performance;
• 37% said that it negatively impacted their co-workers; and
• 5% lost their jobs
• Domestic homicide remains a deeply gendered crime with 80% of adult victims and 59% of child victims
in Canada being female.
Wathen, C. N., MacGregor, J. C. D., MacQuarrie, B. J. with the Canadian Labour Congress. (2014). Can Work be Safe, When Home Isn’t? Initial
Findings of a Pan-Canadian Survey on Domestic Violence and the Workplace. London, ON: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against
Women and Children.
OSSTF/FEESO believes that we have a responsibility to support members experiencing abuse. The Women’s
Advocate program is one example of the our commitment to end gender-based violence.
Who are the D35 Women’s Advocates?
Algoma University – no representatives
Brock University – Emily Hammond & Mary Montgomery
Saint Paul University – no representatives
University of Guelph – Lorraine Hammond & Farrah Trahan
University of Ottawa – 2 representatives
Wilfrid Laurier University – Jenn Williams
Brock University Support Staff 