What is L’R ?
In the early 1980s, most women’s centres came into being in Quebec spontaneously, without any specific action to start them. They were born from the feminism of the 1970s, a feminism which impacted women’s daily lives.
In January 1984, 53 women’s centres in Quebec held a meeting for the first time. This historic event helped to combat the isolation of individual women’s centres and encouraged them to think about what they could do as a collective. One year later, after a consultation in every region of Quebec, more than 80 women’s centres founded a provincial coalition. In June 1985, L’R des centres de femmes du Quebec was born.
Today, 82 women’s centres are members of L’R. If you would like, you can contact a women’s centre among our members throughout Quebec.
All members of L’R subscribe to the Basis of Political Unity (BPU).
To participate in L’R’s Annual General Meeting, which happens during the annual congress, it is necessary to be a member of a women’s centre and be chosen as a delegate for the congress by the same centre. In many women’s centres, the delegation for the annual congress is chosen at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
L’R includes a Political Action Committee, the “CAP turquoise”, a Community Life committee, a Communication committee and a Structure committee. To become a member of one of these committees, it is necessary to be involved in a centre which is a member of L’R and be chosen as a delegate by the centre. If you would like to learn more about these committees, please contact L’R’s office.
All members of L’R meet at least four times a year with the other centres in their region to discuss their practices, the issues that they face and their common projects and goals.
During these regional meetings, space is made to bring matters of collective interest to the coordination committee (also known as the “coco”) or to respond to questions from the coco.
The “coco” (short for “coordination committee”) is made up of 15 representatives from different regions, elected by regional tables, for a mandate of 2 years, renewable once. This is a space that allows representatives to share knowledge, experience, and analyses, in addition to participating in collective management.
The coco is a management space: it has the roles and responsibilities of a governing board. As a result, its representatives are there to be a voice for their regions, but also to ensure that the largest feminist network of independent community action acts in the interests of all the women it represents.
The team is made up of 4 permanent staff members and many contractors. The permanent staff act as co-coordinators, in order to promote equality between women.
Coco – Coordination Committee
Meets 4 times per year. Composed of 15 regional representatives, named by the centres in their region. They have a double role as representatives of their region and as administrators of L’R.
CE – Executive Committee
Meets 5 times per year. Made up of 3 members who are elected by and from the Coco. Hires the permanent staff, who share management of L’R with the CE.
TR – Regional table
Meets a minimum of 4 times per year. Made up of representatives from women’s centres in the region.
Committee
Receives mandates from the Coco or from the Annual General Meeting. Reports to the Coco and to the Annual General Meeting. Made up of employees and participants chosen by different centres, one permanent staff member and, ideally, one member of the Coco.
Sovereign General Meeting
Meets once per year. Made up of members. Gives mandates to the Coco.
Permanent Staff
Supports the mandates given by the Annual General Meeting and by the Coco. Shares management of L’R with the Executive Committee.
