School board votes to stop using Caboto Club
The Greater Essex County District School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to stop booking functions at the Caboto Club at the beginning of the next school year unless the club reverses its policy of excluding women from serving on its board.
A motion brought forward by trustee Jessica Sartori was backed by five trustees in attendance and another participating by phone. Three trustees, Gale SimkoHatfield, Connie Buckler and Cheryl Lovell, declared conflicts of interest because they are involved with other organizations that hold events at the Caboto. Sartori’s resolution asked that the board “discontinue use of Caboto Club facilities after the 2017/18 school year until such a time as said club allows women to enjoy rights as full voting members with opportunity to join the board of directors and when trustees approve the reinstated use of said facilities.”
Speaking to her motion, Sartori said the motion simply aligns with the board’s mission statement. “They say it’s been done this way for 100 years,” said Sartori. “What kind of message does that send to girls and boys?”
She said that as a large publicly funded organization it only makes sense to take this stance. “Imagine what this table would look like without women trustees?” said Sartori. Trustee Julia Burgess expressed some reservations about Sartori’s motion.
“I approach this motion with a lot of regret that we have to do this — it’s particularly hard for me as a proud Italian woman,” said Burgess, who noted she does engage in fundraising with the Caboto but does not have a fiduciary interest. “I really value the work of the Caboto Club, but I’ve got my trustee hat on.” Burgess supported the motion and said the club does great work but could do better work if it changed its policy.
The board heard that there are a number of convocations and proms already booked at the Caboto for this spring which is why the resolution takes effect in the fall. The Caboto Club has been under fire recently over a membership rule that doesn’t permit women to become full voting members or sit
They say it’s been done this way for 100 years. What kind of message does that send to girls and boys?
on the board of directors. That policy led to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne cancelling a Feb. 15 town hall meeting at the club.
Board vice-chairperson Ronald Le Clair said the club’s stance is not only of concern for what it shows young women, but boys as well.
“The boys and the young men in our board, we would be doing them a disservice to not say men and women are equal,” Le Clair said. Trustee Alan Halberstadt supported the motion, but asked Sartori of the policies of other Italian ethnic clubs in the area.
“To my knowledge Ciociaro, Fogolar, Roma all allow women to be full members,” Sartori said. Windsor city hall has also put a hold on new bookings at the club while administration prepares a report for city council.