History

The Older Women’s Network which began as an organization for women over 55 is now open to women of all ages. The Network celebrated its 10^th anniversary in 1998 but 12 years before a small group of women were developing the concept of an organization which examined the lives of older women – they suspected from their knowledge and experiences that older women were being overlooked, underrated and not heard.

In January, 1986 a small group of women meets and adopts the name Older Women's Network which is immediately registered with the province.  The meeting also adopts a statement of objectives.. In the words of one of the original members, Esther Jackson, "the atmosphere was warm, electrified with excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation." It was the launch of the Older Women’s Network.

The initial group met for more than a year and a half for study and discussion. It was decided that the time had come for a public campaign to determine if there was an interest in the formation of an organization representing the hitherto neglected population of older women.

In 1987 the publication of a Canadian Press story about older women’s particular issues produced an avalanche of hundreds of letters from coast to coast hailing the startup of an older women’s network. These letters poured out the stories of women who believed themselves abused by Canadian laws and attitudes..

Four members of the founding group, Nina Herman, Elsie Ticoll, Kathleen Repka and Esther Jackson constituted a planning committee to meet with the Secretary of State for the Status of Women Women’s Programs and the Ontario Women’s Directorate to present a proposal for funding three public forums. Now known as the Founders Group the originals were joined by Rachel Tamari and Reta Duenisch-Turner.

In October of 1987, having secured government funding, the first in a series of 3 public forums was held in Toronto. Entitled "Women in Limbo" the forums addressed the special needs of women between the ages of 55 and 65 – an age group that employers deemed too old to hire but who were not eligible for pension benefits. The first forum attracted nearly 500 women at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. It was followed in the winter and spring of 1988 by 2 more forums on housing options and mandatory retirement respectively.

In May, 1988, the founding organizational meeting of the Metropolitan Toronto and Area Council was held. While the Older Women’s Network conducts its internal affairs along feminist principles it is also a traditional incorporated organization with a constitution, annual general meetings with elections of Council members and an official membership roster.

Over the years the Older Women’s Network objectives have become codified and formal but it is worthwhile to remember the thinking of the founding women whose aim was to provide a voice for the first time for the concerns of women 55 and over. They would work for the expansion of opportunities for older women, for economic security, affordable housing and optimum health. They would combat ageism and sexism. They believed in a continuous process of consciousness raising through the study of feminist literature and its application to the lives of women.

It was their belief that women should be looked at in a new way as they had come to look at themselves in a new way as older women. They were determined to eliminate old stereotypes – "little old ladies pouring tea" – and to promoting the fact that the later period of their lives did not represent the end of their worth but rather an entrance to a new and productive stage of life.

OWN perceives this particular generation of older women as unique because it is the first generation of women of whom many have worked outside the home. It is the first generation of Canadian women who have been active in the women’s movement and who have lived in a society that has been affected by it. It is a generation with an increased life expectancy, well into the 80’s.

From these modest beginnings a lively organization was born, to spread to other centres and to be a voice for the interests of older and midlife women. OWN is now a widely recognized organization whose views are sought by those concerned with this ever increasing segment of the population.