Our Story
CFUW Today
CFUW (formerly the Canadian Federation of University Women) is a self-funded, national organization of over 6,700 women and
90 Clubs located in every province in Canada, founded in 1919. CFUW Clubs and members work to improve the status of women in all their diversity by promoting public education, human rights, social justice, and peace in Canada and abroad.
Our Clubs grant over $1 million a year in scholarships and awards, and work actively in their communities to advance our mission of achieving equality and social justice through continuous learning and empowerment.
CFUW holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is the largest affiliate of Graduate Women International.
Our Vision
Women and girls are educated and empowered to make transformative change in the world.
Our Mission
Achieve educational and economic equality and social justice through continuous learning and empowerment.
Our Brand
In 2023, CFUW made the decision to work under and be known by our acronym, rather than our historic name “Canadian Federation of University Women - La fédération canadienne des femmes dîplomées des universités.” By removing the focus on the word “university,” this decision aims to be more inclusive, reflecting the fact that a university degree is not required to be a welcomed and equal member of the organization. At the same time, continuing to use our acronym maintains and honours CFUW’s rich historical legacy.
CFUW’s new look also entails a new tagline—“Realizing potential. For all women. Le pouvoir par le savoir.” —and a new logo. With its opening book and flame, the logo encapsulates what CFUW has stood for throughout its 105-year history, and what it continues to stand for today: The opening book represents our foundation in learning and education, which is always open and expanding. The unfolding pages symbolize our long history with its many achievements and diversity of members. Finally, the center flame recalls the “lamp of learning” of our previous logo, representing our legacy and lighting the way upward and forward.
Read our full Press Release on the launch of our new brand in English here and in French here.
The Beginning of CFUW
The remarkable industrial expansion that occurred after the beginning of the First World War opened up many opportunities for women. The increase of urban populations, with its consequent industrial growth, led to opportunities for women in industry and in social work. At this time, women were already well established in the teaching profession and entering medicine, law, journalism, nursing, and social work in larger numbers.
Some of the leaders among university women in Canada had long dreamt of a national federation, but the effective impulse to found it came from Great Britain. Early in 1919, Dr. Winifred Cullis of Britain, who had spent time in Canada during the war years lecturing at University of Toronto, suggested that women in Canada might wish to organize a national federation so that Canada might become one of the first countries to join in the emerging International Federation of University Women. A similar suggestion came from Virginia Gildersleeve of the American Association of University Women.
Canada’s response was immediate. In March 1919 at a conference of four of the leaders in university organizations – Alice Cooper, President of the Toronto Club, Margaret Stovel McWilliams, President of the Winnipeg Club, May Skinner, then representing Canada on the American Association’s Committee on International Affairs, and Laila Scott – it was decided to create the Canadian Federation of University Women.
The various clubs responded enthusiastically to the the establishment of the federation and the organization meeting
took place in Winnipeg in August 1919. Six clubs – Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, and Victoria, as well as McGill Alumnae – sent delegates. Promoting education in all its phases was declared to be the first interest of the new federation.
To read more about the beginning of CFUW click here.
History of CFUW Project
Our One Hundred Years: The Canadian Federation of University Women
By Dianne Dodd
To celebrate CFUW’s centenary, Dr. Dianne Dodd was engaged to write a history of the Federation. This engaging study of a still active women’s organization is more than a centennial history to make its members proud. It also provides a lively exploration of a unique organization founded by early women leaders in higher education who offered friendship, community engagement, and lifelong learning. With a leadership of exceptional women, the organization played a largely overlooked role in the women’s movement by supporting education and the arts, encouraging young women to pursue higher education and scholarships, and through its advocacy initiatives helped to build the Canadian nation.
Historical Awards to CFUW
In August, 2011, CFUW received notification from the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, that CFUW had received two awards:
Event of National Significance: The creation of CFUW
National Significant Person: Alice E Wilson – (1881-1964), CFUW member, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the first woman to hold a professional position at the Geological Survey of Canada