CFUW St. Catharines is thrilled to announce that Drawn To Niagara reached their goal. Thank you, thank you. Because of you who purchased the tickets, the sponsors, the artists, the models, the donors, the volunteers and our members, young women in St. Catharines will receive scholarships to pursue their educational dreams and local agencies will assist women and children in our community. This was CFUW’s major fundraiser this year and the first Drawn To Niagara ever! Thank you for supporting us.

Visit our other Drawn To Niagara webpages to view photos of the event, discover the Winning Artist and Mystery Models, read the Artists’ bios, and applaud our Sponsors.

If you share our vision to empower women, consider making a Donation directly to our Registered Charitable Fund by clicking on the Donate Button. Our Charitable Fund supports our Awards Program and local agencies that benefit women and children.

Tickets for Drawn to Niagara are now on sale.

To purchase tickets for our gala fundraiser, Drawn To Niagara, please send an etransfer to email account [email protected] for $250 per person.

If you are comfortable including your name and postal address in the Message Box, tickets will be mailed directly to this address and a charitable tax receipt* using this info will be emailed to you after the event. If you prefer not to include this information at time of etransfer, we will contact you via email within 48 hours.

If you prefer to pay with cash or cheque, please call Christine at 905-525-0111.

* we anticipate the tax receipt will be approximately half of the ticket price (to be determined)

Recently, Senator Marilou McPhedran spoke to Ontario Council representatives about the impact that the lack of civility has had, not only on government representatives, but also on our citizens.

The Senator called on Ontario’s CFUW members to persuade their elected officials in the municipal, provincial and federal governments to sign if they have not, a Civility Pledge, such as one authored by the Canadian Association of Feminist Parliamentarians (English pledge follows the French pledge). This pledge specifically requests that candidates end the harassment of women politicians and that they commit to calling out colonialism, racism, misogyny and discrimination whenever they see it.

Apparently only about 80 of the 400 Federal Parliamentary members have signed it since it was introduced in June of 2024.

It has been suggested that one way our club, both as individuals and as CFUW members, can support the effort to encourage more civility by the parliamentary and other government representatives (such as Regional and Municipal Councillors) is to call or email them and ask them whether they have signed, or would be willing to sign, a Civility Pledge, and if so, thank them.

As a non-partisan organization, CFUW National and Clubs can support or oppose policies and laws as long as we focus on the issues, not the individuals or parties.

Drawn to Niagara ™  –  Call for Artists

Submissions to be an Artist at this event CLOSED on February 28, 2025

This Black-tie event will take place on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at

Coppola’s Ristorante and Banquet Facility, 203 Carlton Street, St. Catharines

Featured throughout the evening:

• Wine tastings from prestigious Niagara wineries
• Tapas extraordinaire
• Dancing to Live Music
• Portrait Painting by juried artists “Live”

Drawn to Niagara ™   is a lavish event with only 150 high-valued tickets, well publicized through select channels, to an exclusive clientele

Portrait Painting Live

• Over 3 hours, 9 artists will paint a portrait of a surprise celebrity model
• 3 models will each be painted by 3 artists
• 9 artists in all
• The room will be divided into 3 sections. One model and 3 artists in each section
• Attendees of Drawn to Niagara ™ will stroll in and out of the room watching the artists paint
• At the end of 3 hours the artists will put down their brushes
• Each model will then view their portraits and be invited to choose one as a keepsake

 All 9 portraits will then be judged by the Directors and 3 will be chosen as the semi-finalists

The attendees will then vote by ballot for the People’s Choice Award

The winning artist will be presented $5,000.00

To download/print a PDF of the Overview, Terms, Rules and Application form,

click the Call for Artists Button.

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 [email protected] 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