To lead into the 16 Days of Activism in November, the Zonta Club of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in September, invited Julie Lalonde (Project Manager of Draw-the-line.ca and Director of Hollaback!) and Director Erin Leigh and Manager of Manifest Change both from Ontario Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW), to speak about their activities. These speakers are active in the community throughout the year.

The club then took the following actions for the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Violence: November 17-24 ManUp (http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=471675) made presentations to fifteen schools in the Ottawa area and spoke about Violence Against Women and Girls, reaching nearly 4,000 children. The speakers were from various community groups such as OCTEVAW, Rape Crisis Unit, Crime Prevention Ottawa and Draw The Line.

November 25, Zonta club of Ottawa presented Daryl Knight, Teacher Coordinator, and Cameron Rooney, member of ManUp with a $1,000 to continue the reach to more school children in January 2016. Members and guests of Zonta Club of Ottawa also donated over $1,400 toward Zonta International and additional local projects. Also on this day, two members of ZCO attended a reception hosted by Women In International Security Canada (WIIS Canada). Many non-profit community groups involved in Ending Violence Against Women were in attendance including, the Minister of Status of Women, Canada, Hon. Patti Hadju as guest speaker. There were stories and poems on violence and a candlelight vigil.

Each day from 25 November, Zonta Club Of Ottawa will post facts, news and interesting activities happening in Ottawa and around Canada, on FaceBook, Twitter AND the Website.

On 6 December, Zontians will attend a vigil to honour all women killed by male violence including the 14 women killed in the Montreal massacre, at Minto Park, Ottawa, ON Canada.