Our Network

Our membership is comprised of 22 local member societies. These local societies are located across this land known as Canada and offer critical front-line services to their communities. Each organization is self-governing, with its own board of directors, executive director, staff, and volunteer team. Knowing that we are stronger and more effective when we work together, local societies collaborate on key issues, best practices, and funding proposals. Local societies become members of CAEFS through an in-depth application process and sustain their membership through engagement, reporting, and annual membership dues.

Click here to find your local Elizabeth Fry Society

CAEFS’ 5 regional advocacy teams monitor the conditions of confinement in the six federal prisons designated for women and two regional psychiatric centers, and advocate alongside the people incarcerated there.

Regional advocates are trained by, and accountable to, CAEFS. Our teams are comprised of staff and leadership from local member societies, and volunteers from the broader community. Regional advocates are an integral part of our advocacy work, which you can read more about here.

See our 2020 / 2021 annual report for a list of our regional advocates.

Some local member societies have organized themselves into regional councils. The mandate of each council differs, but generally work to represent their local members and advocate for the issues impacting their communities on a provincial and regional level.

Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario (CEFSO)

Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Elizabeth Fry Societies (ASMEFS)

Pacific Region Elizabeth Fry Societies (PREFS)

CAEFS work is driven by and in collaboration with people who experience incarceration or are at risk of being incarcerated. Criminalized women and gender-diverse people are involved in our network in a number of different capacities, including as part of our national office team, board, advocates, and as executive directors of Local Elizabeth Fry Societies.