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 28

Zonta Club Meetings

ZCO CA Members Meeting – 28 October 2026

Members of the Zonta Club of Ottawa Area gather for our regular meeting: club updates, committee reports, and a chance to connect…

Nov 11

Zonta Club Meetings

ZCO CA Board Meeting – 11 November 2026

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

Nov 25

Zonta Club Meetings

ZCO CA Members Meeting – 25 November 2026

Members of the Zonta Club of Ottawa Area gather for our regular meeting: club updates, committee reports, and a chance to connect…

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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

16 hours ago

Photos from Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)'s post ...

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

17 hours ago

THINGS TO DOWomen earn 10 to 30 per cent less than men for the same work. Pay inequality persists everywhere. Voice your support for equal pay for equal work.Find a Goal 5 charity you want to support. Any donation, big or small, can make a difference!Be aware of gender stereotypes. Recognize them, avoid them and educate others about them.Stand up against harassment. Whenever you see or become aware of harassment, whether in the workplace, streets, home or the online space, raise your voice against it.Find female mentors/leaders. Ensure that some of your role models or mentors are women. There’s a lot you can learn from women in positions of authority.Share the workload at home. Sharing domestic responsibilities ensures the work burden doesn’t fall only on one person and instills the value of gender equality and essential life skills in children.Stay informed. Follow your local news and stay in touch with the Global Goals online or on social media at The Global Goalsglobalgoals.org/take-action/?id=5 ...

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

17 hours ago

End Child Violence... Dear world leaders,Our hands can shape the very fabric of a child’s life. They hold an extraordinary power to comfort, cradle and protect. To offer the most heartwarming hugs. And to show those little signs of support – a loving wave, a reassuring gesture or an embarrassingly loud round of applause.They can also hold a sinister power. One where they abuse. They attack. And they incite fear. These hands type hateful messages online. They bruise fragile bodies. They invade the most intimate places. And withhold the love and care that every child needs and deserves.Each year, one billion young people around the world are victims of cruel acts of violence. That’s 1 in every 2 children on the planet. A statistic that represents a collective failure to protect the most vulnerable, and promising, among us. Violence takes many forms, and each child experiences it differently, but they all deserve the same commitment to protection.As survivors, advocates and allies we know the devastating impact these experiences can have on a child’s life. Violence robs children of their innocence. It leaves scars that persist throughout their lifetimes and the generations that follow. The violence experienced by a billion children today, is the same violence that will undermine the health, prosperity and stability of our societies tomorrow. Violence that erodes every investment that families, communities and governments make in children, from their education to their mental and physical health.But, the power to change this is in our hands.This November, the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children will take place in Colombia. It has the potential to change the course of a billion childhoods and secure a safer, more just world for generations to come.We know the scale of the challenge. The severity of its impact. The solutions that prevent childhood violence. What we need to know is that this Ministerial will matter. That all governments will show up in Colombia and make big, bold and brave commitments to keep every child safe.With a billion futures in the balance, this November, we have an opportunity to make history. We cannot, and must not, let it pass us by.Together, we can define a new legacy; a future free from violence. A future where hands are only ever used to nurture and protect every single child.On behalf of the one billion children affected by violence, we, as a collective of survivors, advocates and allies, urgently call on world leaders to ensure that no child has to live with the scars left by violence.Childhood is in our hands. The power to act is now in yours.globalgoals.org/endchildviolence/ ...

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Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada

18 hours ago

Women and girls are powerful agents of change.When women and girls have equal opportunities to learn, lead, and succeed, communities become stronger, more inclusive, and more prosperous.Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy supports gender equality around the world by helping remove barriers and creating opportunities for all.While women and girls are at the heart of this work, the positive impacts extend to men and boys too. By challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting equality, we build a better future for everyone.Learn more about Canada’s work to advance gender equality around the world: ow.ly/WUz85100EfC ...

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