The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) is an association of groups operating under the Elizabeth Fry Society banner, similar in many respects to the

John Howard Society The John Howard Society of Canada is a Canadian non-profit organization that seeks to develop understanding and effective responses to the problem of crime and prison reform. It is named after John Howard (prison reformer), John Howard, a philanth ...

. The Elizabeth Fry Society groups work on issues affecting women, girls and gender diverse people in the justice system. The societies take their name from

prison reform Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, improve the effectiveness of a penal system, reduce recidivism or implement alternatives to incarceration. It also focuses on ensuring the reinstatement of those whose lives are ...

Elizabeth Fry Elizabeth Fry (née Gurney; 21 May 1780 – 12 October 1845), sometimes referred to as Betsy Fry, was an English prison reformer, social reformer, philanthropist and Quaker. Fry was a major driving force behind new legislation to improve the tr ...

. The organization was started in 1969, with formal incorporation as a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

occurring in 1978. They help women, girls and gender diverse people to re-integrate into society when they have been in prison or otherwise affected by the criminal justice system. They work independently from the government. The first Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada was established in

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

in 1939. Canada's first female Member of Parliament,

Agnes Macphail Agnes Campbell Macphail (March 24, 1890 – February 13, 1954) was a Canadian politician and the first woman elected to Canada's House of Commons. She served as a Member of Parliament (Canada), Member of Parliament (MP) from 1921 to 1940; from 1 ...

, later led the push to open its

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

branch in 1952. The nationwide The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies company formation was officiated 1969. It was then incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1978. From a national scope, some of the leading names credited as executive figures on the National Office Team include, Emilie Coyle, Nyki Kish, Jacquline Omstead. Operating under the national umbrella, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies are branched off into five segments: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies and Pacific.

Regional Sections

Atlantic

* Elizabeth Fry New Brunswick * Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton * Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia

Quebec

* Société Elizabeth Fry Quebec

Ontario

* Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa * Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough * Elizabeth Fry Toronto * Elizabeth Fry Simcoe Muskoka * Elizabeth Fry Hope and Help * Elizabeth Fry Society of North Eastern Ontario * Elizabeth Fry Society of North Western Ontario * Elizabeth Fry Kingston

Prairies

* Elizabeth Fry Manitoba * Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan * Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary * Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta

Pacific

* Kamloops & District Elizabeth Fry Society * Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society * Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society * Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver * The South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society * Archway Society The Elizabeth Fry Society has also assisted women and gender diverse people who face criminal proceedings. They have had intervenor status in a number of

Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC; , ) is the highest court in the judicial system of Canada. It comprises nine justices, whose decisions are the ultimate application of Canadian law, and grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants eac ...

cases including

R v Ryan ''R v Ryan'' 013SCC 3 is a case concerning the availability of duress in the context of domestic violence. Background Nicole Doucet Ryan (now Nicole Doucet) alleged that she was subject to repeated abuse and torment by her husband, Michael Ryan. ...

, in which

Nicole Patricia Ryan Nicole may refer to: People * Nicole (name) * Nicole (American singer) (born 1958), a contestant in season 3 of the American ''The X Factor'' * Nicole (Chilean singer) (born 1977) * Nicole (German singer) (born 1964), winner of the 1982 Euro ...

was arrested by the

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...

after attempting to hire an undercover officer as a

hitman Contract killing (also known as murder-for-hire) is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or people. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of compensation, moneta ...

to kill her husband. The RCMP were criticized by the Supreme Court for failing to protect Ryan from an abusive husband, however both the husband and the RCMP denied the reported abuse. The husband was not called to testify during the trial.

External links

CAEFS website
Non-profit organizations based in Ottawa Prison reform Women's organizations based in Canada Prisoner support 1939 establishments in Canada Organizations established in 1939 Advocacy groups in Canada {{Canada-org-stub