Origins of Elizabeth Fry Societies in Canada

  • The first Elizabeth Fry Society in the world was founded by Agnes Macphail in Vancouver in 1939. Agnes Macphail was a prison reformer who was also the first woman to be elected into the House of Commons. Macphail founded the Elizabeth Fry Society under the same guidelines and principles that Fry believed in: the fair and humane treatment of women in prison.
  • Shortly after the Elizabeth Fry Society was founded, similar organizations began to develop across Canada. In 1978, the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) was implemented. The purpose of CAEFS is to act as an umbrella organization through which each of the independent Elizabeth Fry Societies can communicate with each other regularly.
  • The current Executive Director of CAEFS is Kim Pate. Kim Pate is an advocate, activist, and ally of women and girls in prison in Canada. She has worked with and on behalf of marginalized, victimized, criminalized, and imprisoned youth, men, and women for more than two decades.
  • The executive of CAEFS is made up of individuals who represent Elizabeth Fry Societies across Canada. Each society nominates a member of their organization to sit on the Board of Directors. CAEFS selects its executive by choosing deserving individuals that sit on the Board of Directors. The members of the CAEFS executive participate in each of the societies so that individual societies can take part at a national level.
  • Each Elizabeth Fry Society is independent yet works with other societies, particularly those who are in the same region. There are 5 regions in Canada. These are based on the Correctional Service Canada regions: Pacific, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic.
  • Today, there are over 25 Elizabeth Fry Societies in Canada