Evaluation

As is discussed in the above section, Designing Our Future: Women's Education and Training in Canada, 2000 and Beyond achieved a notable number of its objectives and was, overall, a success for the women who attended. Comments on participant evaluation forms are consistently in the nature of, "Very informative", "Very good", and "I learned lots". The conference managed to attract the participation of a significant diversity of women from across Canada and from across Ontario, some of whom, without financial assistance, would not have been able to attend. Being able to offer financial assistance to economically and socially disadvantaged women is fundamental to incorporating the participation of a truly diverse constituency.

An area identified as important for attention but which was inadequately covered by the conference was the educational and learning needs of women with disabilities. In initial planning, a workshop period was allocated to this topic but, due to lack of registration, was cancelled. Support for the resource persons connected to this topic was still provided, and a discussion group on the needs of women with disabilities was convened on Saturday. However, as a minority group within the larger women's movement, it cannot be left to women with disabilities alone to identify needs, act on issues and lobby for public recognition, support, accessibility and inclusion. Rather than a workshop session subject to voluntary registration, an alternative strategy would be to hold a plenary panel discussion in which the experiences and concerns of women with disabilities can be addressed to all conference participants.

The use and exploration of technology through the on-line discussions as well as at the conference raised a number of issues. Though it became evident that technology is a very effective tool to broaden, diversify and facilitate participation, it cannot replace face to face meeting. This is reflected in the comments of many conference participants, but most surprisingly in those of young women, on the whole more familiar and comfortable with information technologies, who voiced a concern for the loss of personal connection. They do not want to be solely and always behind their computers but also in personal contact with those with whom they are working. While many aspects and advantages of information technology have yet to be mined by organizations like CCLOW, it was also a clear conclusion of the conference that traditional (face to face) and newer (technology-based) ways of working need to be combined for the most effective results.

Some of the larger and more detailed objectives of the conference were not achieved within the conference timeframe. This was primarily due to the number and scope of objectives set out rather than to the importance or priority of any of them. That is, the conference was designed to investigate the state of women's learning, education and training in Canada, explore the possible merger of two national organizations, investigate the uses of new technology, identify and develop projects and identify possible funding sources, explore the effectiveness of CCLOW as an organization and/or develop alternative ways to address women's concerns, and map out a three year plan of action for a national women's group addressing learning, education and training. This is an enormous amount to be accomplished in three days, especially by women who may be coming together for the first time.

It is evident that CCLOW organizers were keen to make the most out of time spent in the company of such experienced, innovative, active and thoughtful women. However, a one time conference is no replacement for a stable operating base, permanent staff and regular extensive meetings of a cohesive governing body. In fact, if there is any "negative" comment from participant evaluations, it is that there was "Not enough time" or "Would have liked to discuss more." These comments indicate not only the time pressure of a limited conference, but also that participants attributed a great deal of significance to the issues they were addressing. However, as a result of the limitations, CCLOW organizers did not come away with a three year plan of action in hand for the organization, nor with draft funding proposals for possible projects (though, as discussed in "Results," the basic material to develop these objectives was gathered) . The effectiveness of CCLOW's ways of working was not fully explored (except to note that CCLOW projects and publications have had an enormous and lasting effect in the area of women's education) nor were alternative ways of representing women's concerns and interests. Some of this work needs to be the focus of other conferences dedicated to those topics; some needs to be the work of an active and well-supported Board of Directors; and some needs to be the work of dedicated, stable employees.

However, many far reaching and less tangible objectives were achieved through the networking, information exchange, support and inspiration generated by the coming together of a diverse and dynamic group of women. All of the women who attended the conference are in some way involved in women's educational or learning programs across the country, whether as instructors, facilitators, administrators, learners, academics, writers, activists or policy makers. All of them have taken away ideas, connections, information or motivation to feed into their personal and professional work. Many connections were made that will, in time, improve the economic status of many women, as women's equitable labour market participation is pursued. Much information was shared that will help alleviate systemic violence against women and girls, especially if prototype programs are implemented elsewhere and as practitioners continue to be able to support and collaborate with each other through networking. These and other results of the conference cannot but augment the persistent, though often obstacle-laden, movement to achieve social justice for women of all diversities. It was in the spirit of social justice and equality that conference participants came together and it is in this bolstered spirit they returned to their communities to continue their work and learning.