Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
Association Canadienne des Sociétés Elizabeth Fry
701-151 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3
Telephone : (613) 238-2422
Facsimile : (613) 232-7130

After more that ten years as the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS), I continue to be amazed and impressed by the incredible depth, breadth and level of commitment of our membership, individually and collectively. It has been a great privilege to work with many very passionate, responsible and dependable women who contribute their very valuable experience, expertise and enthusiasm to alleviating the oppression of themselves and others, particularly victimized and criminalized women. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you, especially those with the lived experience of imprisonment and those of you who work directly with and for them. I treasure your trust and support as you allow me so many illuminating opportunities to walk with you, sometimes through hell and back.

This year we will again refresh our dreams and aspirations, as we collectively strive to achieve our vision and to fulfill our mandate. In our past two decades as a national association, we have weathered many challenges and experienced significant gains. We continue to reflect upon the growth and strength of our membership and eagerly anticipate the possibilities that lie ahead of us. Sporting the insight of mutual beliefs and collective effort, we are excited and inspired to strive for sensational new possibilities. In this year's report, we will provide you with an overview of our challenges and achievements of the past, as well as a glimpse into the future work that the membership has forecast for CAEFS.

In keeping with CAEFS' ongoing support for prisoner enfranchisement, including previous interventions in prisoner voting cases, CAEFS and the John Howard Society of Canada intervened at the Supreme Court of Canada, in the prisoner voting case, R. v. Sauve.

Historically, federal prisoners have fought for and been granted the franchise by the courts. Following such legal successes, however, the government has subsequently amended the Canada Elections Act so as to re-remove the right of federally sentenced prisoners to vote. The case was heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on December 10, 2001. We are still awaiting the decision of the court.