Alpha Omicron Pi Women's Fraternity: To Dragma- Summer 2002

Oh Canada! Sisterhood without borders

By Shala Schweitzer Berry, (Kappa Lambda – U of Calgary)

Since AOII became an International Fraternity with the installation of Beta Tau Chapter at the U of Toronto in September, 1930, there has been a truly special relationship between AOII’s American and Canadian sisters. Every year at Leadership Institute or Convention, there is a strong contingent of Canadian sisters present – collegiate and alumnae presidents, advisers, and network specialists. Through an outpouring of support in the wake of September 11th, our special bond of sisterhoodhas transcended limitations – a true sisterhood without borders.

A Brief History On The Nation Our Neighboring
Sisters Call Home
Although not quite as old as the United States, Canada has had a long and varied history since 1498, when John Cabot discovered the eastern shores of Newfoundland. There were many battles between the English
and the French over control of ‘Canada’, and even included a war won by Canada against the US in 1813 (The War of 1812.)

Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified
border. Canada celebrates its independence from Great Britain each year on July 1st, Canada Day.

Government system
The federal Parliament deals with matters that affect all of Canada, such as
interprovincial trade and commerce, national defense and criminal law. As
well, the federal government has responsibility for Aboriginal people and
lands reserved for Aboriginal people.
The provincial legislatures have the authority to make laws in such areas as
education, property rights, the administration of justice, hospitals, municipalities
and other local or private matters. In addition, the provinces may create
local or municipal governments that can deal with matters such as parking
regulations or local building standards.

Two official languages:
The Official Languages Act makes French and English the official languages
of Canada and provides for special measures aimed at enhancing the vitality
and supporting the development of English and French linguistic minority
communities. Canada’s federal institutions reflect the equality of its two official
languages by offering bilingual services.

Cultural Policy:
Canada’s official policy on other cultures in Canada is that of
Multiculturalism, as opposed to the ‘melting pot’ – cultures are expected
to be cherished, celebrated, and enhance everyday life.

Education:
Unlike many other industrialized countries, Canada has no federal educational
system; the Constitution vested the responsibility for education in the
provinces. Each provincial system, while similar to the others, reflects its particular region, history and culture. The provincial departments of education -
headed by an elected minister - set standards, draw up curricula, and give
grants to educational institutions.

Responsibility for the administration of elementary and secondary schools is
delegated to local elected school boards or commissions. The boards set budgets, hire and negotiate with teachers, and shape school curricula within
provincial guidelines.

For most of Canada’s history, post-secondary education was provided almost
exclusively by its universities. These were mainly private institutions, many
with a religious affiliation, but now are publicly funded. During the 1960s,
however, as the demand for greater variety in post-secondary education rose
sharply and enrollment grew, systems of publicly-operated post-secondary
non-university institutions began to develop. Today in Canada, some 200
technical institutes and community colleges complement about 100 universities,
attracting a total post-secondary enrollment of approximately one million
students. Student fees, owing to substantial government subsidies, account for
only about 11 percent of the cost of Canadian post-secondary education.

AOII in Canada
Greek life in Canada is the exception, not the rule. There are only
26 campuses that have Greek life, and only 14 NPC groups have
chapters in Canada. Only Alpha Gamma Delta and Alpha Phi have chartered more chapters in Canada than AOII (9 and 7 respectively). AOII has
chartered 6 collegiate chapters and 5 alumnae chapters:

Collegiate Chapters
• U of Toronto (Toronto, ON)
Beta Tau Chapter - chartered September 27, 1930 (72 years old. The oldest continuous chapter in Canada)
• U of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
Beta Kappa was chartered October 17, 1931, returned charter 1985
• McGill U (Montreal, QC)
Kappa Phi was chartered March 25, 1939, returned charter 1973; Rechartered
November 11th, 1989
• U of Calgary (Calgary, AB)
Kappa Lambda was chartered November 30, 1985
• U of Western Ontario (London, ON)
Iota Chi was chartered October 25th, 1986
• Carleton U (Ottawa, ON)
Gamma Chi was chartered November 21st, 1992

Alumnae Chapters
AOII currently has five alumnae chapters in Canada:
Toronto Area Alumnae Chapter, Vancouver Alumnae Chapter, Montreal Alumnae Chapter, Ottawa Alumnae Chapter, and Calgary Alumnae Chapter.

Only 2 chapters (Beta Tau and Iota Chi) own housing, and Kappa Phi rents their apartment/townhouse. Neither Gamma Chi nor Kappa Lambda own houses as where the universities are located for Carleton, McGill, and Calgary, the housing is in fairly upscale communities where housing is at a premium and, thus the cost is too high.

Chapter size averages between 20 and 35 members, with the exception of Iota Chi, where chapter size can range between 40-75 members as campus total is higher. The tradition of going Greek is not well developed in Canada, and the universities do not recognize nor control Greek Life. More often than not, Greeks are recognized as limited student groups – they can have free meetings rooms and can advertise on campus. Only 2 universities have a faculty Greek Adviser, but not a proper staff/department, and only 3 other campuses have volunteer Panhellenic advisers.

Financially, most Canadian collegiate AOII’s are going through school on student loans and working part-time. Statistics show that in most AOII Canadian chapters, 85 to 100% of chapter members currently have a part-time job of 15 hours and up. In all the provinces, there are rules to where you can apply and still receive a full-ride student loan, which has limited students going to school in their home city/province, and not ‘going away to college’. Most students will still live in the same city and at home during college. The drinking age in Alberta and Quebec is 18, and in Ontario, 19. By the time most students come to university, much less AOII, the novelty of “going out drinking” has dissipated. By Canadian law, you are a legal adult at 18 years of age. Thus the university’s responsibility for the safety & welfare of their students is different from that of an American university. All of the Canadian Alumnae chapters have very diverse membership and activities for their members. Whether they are doing a silent auction, a golf tournament, a food theme event, or celebrating Founders’ Day, each alumnae chapter has a lot of fun, and wants you to be a member… sisterhood is more than 4 college years. Contact HQ at shaman@alphaomicronpi. org to get the contact information of your nearest alumnae chapter.

Canadian collegiate chapters are having fun, but they also need adviser support. Some chapters have 6-8 advisers, but most have 2-4 advisers. These chapters lacking in alumnae support are having difficulties in keeping the advisers they currently have as they get burnt out very quickly. If you only have a few hours a month, please give back to your local collegiate chapter – they need our
support to succeed in the future Canadian AOII’s have served as volunteers for many years as well.

From Regional Directors and Vice-Presidents and Chapter Consultants to today’s Collegiate Network Specialists, AOII has enjoyed the varied experiences that these women bring to their chapters in Canada and the United States. Canadian AOII’s are also very proud of Joan MacCallum, AOII’s first and only Canadian International President. Joan served from 1979-1981, and is the
current International Historian. Banff National Park, Canada’s first national
park, features many natural, cultural and historic sites. Elk, bighorn sheep, black and grizzly bear, and caribou make their homes there. The natural landscape is composed of rugged mountains, glaciers, icefields, alpine meadows, beautiful blue cold-water lakes, mineral hot springs,
and deep canyons.

Two American members share perspectives on what AOII and Canada has been to them:
“I have warm and wonderful memories of my first experience with Canadian sisters when I attended my first International AOII Convention held at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. in 1959! My roommate was a Canadian, and she made sure that I met lots of my Canadian sisters...it was a tremendous sisterhood experience for me, and as a collegiate president, broadened my AOII experience significantly! I truly embraced the ‘international’ aspect of our fraternity at this convention! Everything about the convention was amazing....
the beautiful hotel and surroundings....the warmth of the welcome extended to us by our Canadian sisters...”
- Rosalie Barber, AOII Executive Board, VP/Extension

“Traveling for AOII allowed me to see Canada for the first time. I visited four chapters during my year as a CC (Iota Chi, Beta Tau, Kappa Lambda and Kappa Phi) and each chapter made sure that I saw their favorite parts of their campuses, cities and so on. Everyone was very gracious to help me learn more about Canada and appreciate their traditions.”
- Monica Ramey, Chapter Consultant 99-00

Since September 11th, we all have become more aware of what is important and the bonds that hold us close. There is a lot of pride that each Canadian member of AOII has, not only for this organization, but also being Canadian. In being International (not “National”), AOII is not only a bond of sisterhood, but also a bond that transcends borders as well.

By Shala Schweitzer Berry, (Kappa Lambda – U of Calgary) earned her BA in Canadian and US History. Shala serves as a Collegiate Network Specialist, and is the President of the Canadian Interfraternal Association.