Building a better world for women and girls

For nearly 100 years, our members have advocated for gender equality, funded education, and worked to end violence against women — here in the National Capital Region and around the world.

Who We Are

Service and advocacy, side by side

The Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada is part of Zonta International, a global organization of individuals working to build a better world for women and girls. Since 1929, our members have combined hands-on service with advocacy — funding scholarships, supporting local women's organizations, and speaking up on issues from gender-based violence to equal representation.

We're a club of doers: individuals from across the National Capital Region who believe that lasting change happens through direct support and through changing the systems around us.

Learn more about our club →

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Ending Violence Against Women

Through the global Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, we raise awareness and support local organizations working with survivors during the 16 Days of Activism and year-round.

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Education Awards

Our education awards open doors for young women — including the Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award and Zonta Women in STEM Award — investing directly in the next generation of leaders.
See our education awards →

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Local Service Projects

Our members give their time and skills to hands-on projects that support women and families in the National Capital Region — from donation drives to partnerships with local shelters and community organizations.

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Climate Justice

The Zonta Says NOW to Gender-Equal Climate Action campaign focuses on how climate change is increasing gender inequality. This campaign advocates to end the gender-related consequences of climate change.

years serving Ottawa, Canada

Our Impact

Nine decades of showing up for women and girls

Since 1929, the Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada has been part of this city's story. Our causes have varied over the years. Our commitment to the education and empowerment of women and girls hasn't.

awards given out since 1984

dollars in education award funds given to women and girls since 1984

active members and growing

Be part of our next century!

Whether you're interested in membership, partnership, or learning more about our work empowering women and girls in the National Capital Region, reach out — there's a place for you here and we will get back to you soon!

Get in Touch

Oct 11

Zonta Events

International Day of the Girl

Declared by the United Nations, the International Day of the Girl Child recognizes girls' rights and the unique challenges they face worldwide.…

Oct 14

Zonta Club Meetings

ZCO CA Board Meeting – 14 October 2026

The Zonta Club of Ottawa Area Board meets to review club business, plan upcoming activities, and guide the work of our committees.…

Oct 18

Zonta Events

Persons Day

Persons Day marks the 1929 decision in the Persons Case, when the "Famous Five" — Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise…

View All Events

Scholarship Spotlight

Investing in the next generation

Sifa Gulin Tarakci Jean M. Coon 2026 Humanitarian Award · 2026

Sifa is a Grade 12 student at Merivale High School whose community service is driven by a deep commitment to inclusion. As a Muslim immigrant woman, she is dedicated to inclusivity and creating spaces where everyone belongs. Some of her notable initiatives include founding the Panorama Multicultural Festival, which drew over 650 attendees and raised more than $1,000 for a non-profit supporting newcomers and launching a women's swim initiative so Muslim women in her community could stay active without compromising their religious values.

Learn about our scholarships →

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada
May 15,1929-2026 Celebrating 97 years of Service and Advocacy to Women and Girls in Canada’s NCR

Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

5 hours ago

GOAL 4: QUALITY EDUCATIONGoal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. This goal supports the reduction of disparities and inequities in education, both in terms of access and quality. It recognizes the need to provide quality education for all, and most especially vulnerable populations, including poor children, children living in rural areas, persons with disabilities, indigenous people and refugee children.This goal is of critical importance because of its transformative effects on the other SDGs. Sustainable development hinges on every child receiving a quality education. When children are offered the tools to develop to their full potential, they become productive adults ready to give back to their communities and break the cycle of poverty. Education enables upward socioeconomic mobility.Significant progress was achieved during the last decade in increasing access to education and school enrolment rates at all levels, particularly for girls. Despite these gains, about 260 million children were out of school in 2018, nearly one fifth of the global population in that age group. Furthermore, more than half of all children and adolescents worldwide are failing to meet minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics.UNICEF’s contribution towards reaching this goal centres on equity and inclusion to provide all children with quality learning opportunities and skills development programmes, from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF works with governments worldwide to raise the quality and inclusiveness of schools. UNICEF is custodian for global monitoring of Indicator 4.2.1 Percentage of children (aged 24–59 months) developmentally on track in at least 3 of the 4 following domains: literacy-numeracy, physical, socio-emotional and learning.data.unicef.org/sdgs/goal-4-quality-education/#ed_ln_m-r_g2-3-l1-p2 ...

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6 hours ago

Children around the world are being exposed to climate hazards at an unprecedented scale. Nearly one in seven children – around 337 million – live in areas affected by riverine flooding, while 33 million are exposed to coastal floods. Drought is even more widespread: more than three quarters of all children globally (1.8 billion) are exposed to agricultural or meteorological droughts, threatening food security, nutrition and livelihoods. At the same time, 662 million children live in areas exposed to tropical storms, where intense rainfall and high winds disrupt homes, schools and health services. Nearly two in three children worldwide (1.5 billion) are exposed to heatwaves that are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting or more severe, and 1.2 billion children are exposed to extreme heat conditions. These exposures pose serious risks to children’s health, learning and well-being, particularly where access to cooling, safe water and health care is limited. Additional hazards compound these risks, with 206 million children exposed to frequent and severe fires and 123million exposed to sand and dust storms. Climate change also amplifies hazards that directly affect children’s health. Over two in five children globally (around 1 billion) live in areas with exposure to malaria, a climate-sensitive disease whose transmission is influenced by temperature and rainfall patterns. Air pollution is even more pervasive: an estimated 2.3 billion children – almost all children worldwide – live in areas where air pollutants are detectable. Together, these climate-sensitive hazards underscore how climate-related hazards threaten children’s survival, development and futures, particularly in contexts where health and protective systems are weakest. data.unicef.org/resources/childrens-climate-risk-report-2026/ ...

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

7 hours ago

October 11, 2026 International Day of Girl Child GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE HOLDS WOMEN BACK#ZontaSaysNO #EndChildMarriage #16DaysOfActivismwww.zonta.org ...

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

7 hours ago

October 11, 2026 International Day of Girl Child EDUCATION EQUALITY CHANGES EVERYTHING#ZontaSaysNO #EndChildMarriage #16DaysOfActivismwww.zonta.org ...

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