Membership

To be eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Women's Centre Societies (CAWCS), an organization must meet the following criteria:

Organizational Status

• Be a registered nonprofit society, charitable organization, cooperative, or Indigenous-led community organization whose primary mission includes serving women and girls through a women's centre, or women's resource centre; or
• Be an emerging coalition, collective, or organizing body of women actively working toward the establishment and formal incorporation of a women's centre or women's resource centre within their community to drive feminist advocacy.

Mission and Purpose

• Demonstrate a clear commitment to advancing women's equity, equality, empowerment, safety, and well-being.
• Operate with a mandate that supports women and girls through advocacy, education, support services, leadership development, community engagement, or systems change initiatives.

Feminist Foundation

• Be grounded in feminist principles and gender equity frameworks that recognize and seek to address systemic barriers impacting women and girls.
• Support the advancement of women's rights, inclusion, leadership, and participation in social, economic, political, and community life.

Commitment to Inclusion

• Uphold principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and respect for human rights.
• Welcome and support women from diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, cultures, abilities, and communities.

Alignment with CAWCS Values

• Agree to uphold the mission, vision, values, and objectives of CAWCS.
• Support collaborative advocacy efforts and contribute to the collective advancement of women's centres and women's rights at local, national, and international levels.

Good Standing

• Operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations within its jurisdiction.
• Maintain good standing within its governing authority, where applicable.
  

Request membership by emailing info@cawcs.org