25 Years Since the Morgentaler Decision: A Celebration

A Celebration and Discussion of Reproductive Justice for Canadian Women

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - On January 28, 1988 the Supreme Court of Canada overturned Canada's abortion law in an historic decision that gave women the right to abortion on request without restrictions. The Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics will be commemorating the 25th Anniversary of The Morgentaler Decision with a celebration event and discussion about reproductive justice today.

WHAT:	The speakers will discuss the struggle for reproductive justice leading up the decision as well as access to abortions in Canada today and current issues related to reproductive justice.
WHEN:	Monday, January 28 2013
	7:00 p.m. - Guest Speakers
	8:00 p.m. - Screening of The Life and Times of Henry Morgentaler
WHO:	Carolyn Egan, Judy Rebick, Michele Landsberg, Angela Robertson, and Jillian Bardsley. The event is sponsored by the Ontario Coalition of Abortion Clinics and endorsed by the University of Toronto Medical Students for Choice and Arts for Choice.
WHERE:	Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue (at St. George Street); $5 donation at the door
WHY:	The Morgentaler decision followed the rise of a movement supporting a woman's right to choose that involved thousands of women, men, students, trade unionists and social justice activists. This victory for women's rights is an important reason to celebrate and to remember Dr. Morgentaler's contribution. It is also a moment to recognize that, despite the Morgentaler decision, women in Canada still struggle for access to abortion and that the fight for reproductive justice is still ongoing in Canada.

Carolyn Egan is a well-known trade unionist, feminist and human rights activist, has been a leader in the pro-choice movement in the 1980s, founding member of the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics, central in organizing Toronto's International Women's Day march, president of the Steelworkers Toronto Area Council and recipient of the Constance E. Hamilton Award on the Status of Women for the City of Toronto.

Jillian Bardsley is a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto and Co-President of the Toronto chapter of Medical Students for Choice. When at McGill, Jillian was Lead Coordinator for the Women's Studies Student Association and a founding editor of the McGill Women's Studies Interdisciplinary Journal.

SOURCE: Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics (OCAC)

Contacts:
Karolina Walczak, Event & Media Coordinator (416-347-6669 / [email protected])
Carolyn Egan, Ontario Coalition of Abortion Clinics (416-806-7985 / [email protected])
Jillian Bardsley, U of T Medical Students for Choice (416-454-1146 / [email protected])