Candlelight Vigil to Honour the Victims of the Montreal Massacre:

Club members and residents are invited to a Candlelight Vigil to honour those who lost their lives or were injured in an act of violent misogyny on December 6, 1989 at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women commemorates the 14 women who were killed that day and the lives of all of those who have died as a result of gender-based violence.

Date: Friday, December 6, 2024

Time: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: The walk will begin on the Welland Canal Parkway Trail, St. Catharines, at a spot between Linwell Road and Scott Street. The gathering place is north of Scott Street. See the map below.

Details:

• Limited parking spaces are available at various locations along the Welland Canal Parkway. See the map below. Consider carpooling.
• If you have a flameless candle or a votive candle, please bring it. A small supply of candles will be available.
• We’re grateful to the Brock Sexual Violence Prevention Committee which is supplying photos of the women who will be honoured. They are acknowledged by name here:

1. Geneviève Bergeron (born 1968) (aged 21), civil engineering student
2. Hélène Colgan (born 1966) (aged 23), mechanical engineering student
3. Nathalie Croteau (born 1966) (aged 23), mechanical engineering student
4. Barbara Daigneault (born 1967) (aged 22), mechanical engineering student
5. Anne-Marie Edward (born 1968) (aged 21), chemical engineering student
6. Maud Haviernick (born 1960) (aged 29), materials engineering student
7. Maryse Laganière (born 1964) (aged 25), budget clerk in the École Polytechnique’s finance department
8. Maryse Leclair (born 1966) (aged 23), materials engineering student
9. Anne-Marie Lemay (born 1967) (aged 22), mechanical engineering student
10. Sonia Pelletier (born 1961) (aged 28), mechanical engineering student
11. Michèle Richard (born 1968) (aged 21), materials engineering student
12. Annie St-Arneault (born 1966) (aged 23), mechanical engineering student
13. Annie Turcotte (born 1969) (aged 20), materials engineering student
14. Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz (born 1958) (aged 31), nursing student

MAP:
The round spot is where parking is available.  X marks where the vigil will be. 

In recognition of the launch of the UNiTE campaign by the United Nations on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women,  a GWI International ZOOM Conversation on this topic will be held on Thursday, November 28th,11-12:30 PM.

Co-hosts are Montreal Lakeshore University Women’s Club for Canada and Graduate Women Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Their GWI Bina Roy project just received an award based on the outcomes, which included resensitizing school girls and their families to the issues of  gender-based  and sexual-violence, including avoidance techniques.

All are invited to attend, CLICK HERE to register or View the Poster and click on the link in the poster to register.

CFUW St. Catharines Launches Speakers Series on Sept. 10

 A panel discussion focused on “Women in the Ontario Grape and Wine Industry: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” kicks off the CFUW St. Catharines Speakers Series on Sept. 10, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), Gemini Room, Club Roma.  The event is moderated by Jennifer Wilhelm, an author with 30 years experience in the agritourism and hospitality sectors.

Wilhelm is joined by Donna Lailey, first female Grape King; Kelly Mason, grape grower and Ontario Winemaker of the Year 2024; Allison Findlay, Winemaker, Niagara College Teaching Winery and Brooke Husband, Assistant Winemaker. The participants, industry trailblazers, will share how women’s roles and influence have evolved; their contributions; the challenges overcome; the value of mentorship and community; and future prospects.

The multi-generation panel of women is an occasion for a comprehensive conversation about the evolution of the industry.  The discussion format promotes the sharing of transformative lessons, wisdom, values, and knowledge, while celebrating and fostering conscientious leadership. Tickets are $10 for non-members and $5 for students on Eventbrite.

In addition to fundraising to sustain high school and post-secondary scholarships, the Club offers opportunities for personal growth, new friendships, social activism and community volunteerism.  With over 200 members, the Club remains committed to “Realizing Potential. For All Women.”, while providing ample choices for working towards equality and social justice through continuous learning and empowerment.

Quotes:

“These exemplary women have made it a personal practice to lead by example and lift the people around them as they rise. Their inspiring experiences encourage us to be resilient, innovative, and live to our fullest potential. We are stronger individually and collectively when we come together to collaborate, share, and support one another,” said Jennifer Wilhelm, author of “Sharing a Glass: Inspirational Memoirs & Memories of the Women Who Shaped Ontario’s Grape & Wine Industry”.

“With their stories woven together like vines forming a sturdy basket, we’ll learn how one of our  Club’s primary objectives of “Realizing Potential. For All Women.” is realized by the panelists as they share how they’ve been supported, and now serve as mentors to other dynamic women. Within these stories are lessons our Club can incorporate and share with the 95 others across Canada,” said Christine Marks, Club President.

About CFUW St. Catharines

 CFUW St. Catharines has over 200 members and promotes equality, social justice, friendship and life-long learning. Established in 1921, it is a volunteer, self-funded, non-partisan, non-profit organization raising funds for young women’s post-secondary scholarships and local agencies serving women and children. We are one of approximately 95 clubs across Canada that are members of CFUW National, which also supports international efforts to improve the lives of girls and women world-wide.  All women who support our organization’s goals are invited to join, with or without a post-secondary education.  Browse through our website for more information about our club and this event..

Mark Sunday, May 26 from noon to 5 p.m. in your calendars!  It’s the annual House & Garden Tour …an eagerly anticipated one-of-a-kind event.

The Tour of several homes and gardens is the major fundraiser for our Registered Charity, providing local students with post-secondary scholarships and supporting agencies that help women and children in our community.

Gather your friends for a memorable afternoon, celebrating local architecture, décor, landscaping and local history.  This year marks our 50^th event, and we promise to deliver some surprise venues and additional offerings. With your support, our Club is confident we will reach our $20,000 fundraising goal.

Return to our website for updates on ticket availability and Tour details. Consider buying tickets as a Mother’s Day gift, wedding/shower gift or birthday present for those in your circle who would enjoy spending a Sunday afternoon together.

Additionally, you can donate directly to our Charitable Fund by clicking on the Donate Button.

We invite you to spend a few moments on our website to learn more about us. If you share our vision to empower women through access to education, consider joining our Club.

St. Catharines Charitable Fund, Reg.# 88908 8365 RR0001

For our members and your invited guests:

Want to learn more about your club members? Delight in handcrafted creations, celebrate fellow members and become inspired!

Our March meeting will be dedicated exclusively to showcasing the arts of our members and to celebrating their talents. This will also provide more time for members to mingle and an opportunity to bring a friend to join in the fun. View handcrafted creations, learn about our member artists, and support the Charitable Fund with your purchases.

If you would like to participate as a Maker, please email info@cfuwstcatharines.org for more information before March 2, 2024. 

Event Details:
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
6p.m. – 8p.m.
Trillium United Church
Ruby Carroll Hall
415 Linwell Road, St. Catharines

A new look. A new tagline. Same mission and vision.

A logo and tagline must capture the core of our club and lay the foundation for the style and tone of all our outward and inward facing marketing and communications.

A logo and tagline must be distinct, memorable, and flexible, capturing the spirit and energy of the organization and applicable to all levels of the organization.

Introducing our new CFUW Logo and Tagline and the significance of its many components:

The Logo

OPEN BOOK (and SPINE) – A foundation in learning and education – always opening and expanding

UNFOLDING PAGES – A long history with many achievements – diversity of members

FLAME (in centre) – Acknowledgment of our legacy brand, the Lamp of Learning – lighting the way, upward and forward.

 
The Tagline

Realizing is both to understand and make real. A state of mind – to become fully aware – a process which speaks to the foundations of lifelong learning in our organization.

Potential is the outcome of our work. It’s the ‘vision’ that becomes a reality – seeing potential and bringing it to life. As an organization and member community, we see a potential goal, come together to find a solution, and bring it to life for the betterment of all.

For all women is a statement with powerful duality that defines both our organization’s members and purpose. Our organization is “for all women” to join and participate. The advocacy work we do is “for all women” – with our core focus being women’s empowerment, education, representation, equality and human rights.

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations. We encourage all Canadians to wear an Orange Shirt on September 30th.

To learn more read CFUW Special Edition Newsletter which provides more on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Orange shirt Day, and many useful links for further learning toward our understanding about reconciliation and our journey toward allyship. It also shows links to our CFUW policies that support Indigenous matters.