womenvoters.ca

On this rainy Saturday morning in Vancouver, 78 women gathered in the ballroom at Hycroft to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Persons’ Day. 

Rose Point, elder from Musqueam First Nation, opened the day with a welcome to Musqueam territory.  She asked us to unite and prepare to share the day with each other.  

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

A keynote address by Maureen Fitzgerald encouraged us to recognize and value our strengths as women. Delivered with humour, stories and a series of provocative questions, Maureen left participants with thoughts and activities to explore.

Following a break, Mary Collins, former MP and Cabinet Minister, hosted a panel discussion with three women in different stages of their political careers: Penny Priddy, retired from political office, the only woman in Canada to to be elected to school board, city council, a provincial legislature and the House of Commons; Suzanne Anton, Vancouver City Council and former park board commissioner; and Patti Bacchus, first time Vancouver school board trustee, elected by her colleagues to chair the board.

Generous donors provided gifts for a draw at the end of the session. We were fortunate to have two ‘grand prizes’.

• a share in a food co-op donated by Deb Reynolds from Home Grow-In worth $250
• a certificate for a ’speaker school’ from the Vancouver chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, worth $400

The Canadian Women Voters Congress welcomes 7 new members.  We look forward to our next educational event.

Persons’ Day 80th Anniversary

The Canadian Women Voters Congress (CWVC) is excited to join women across the country as they come together this October to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the day that women were declared ‘persons’ in Canada. This year, Persons’ Day is especially important as the Famous Five, the five Albertan women who fought to have women’s personhood acknowledged were recently inducted as Honourary Senators by the Canadian Senate.

Join Us for Persons’ Day in Vancouver!

We have partnered with The University Women’s Club to hold an Education Day on Saturday, October 17 from 8:45 – noon, followed by a light lunch. The theme of the day will be ‘The Politics of Women’s Lives’. Hosted at Hycroft, a magnificent heritage mansion located in Shaughnessy, this Persons’ Day celebration will include speakers, discussion and reflection related to the politics of women’s lives.
Maureen F. Fitzgerald, PhD, talented mediator and lawyer, and bestselling author will speak on The Truly Amazing (Invisible) Woman: Recognizing and Promoting Women’s Strengths.  This will be followed by an exclusive panel presentation with Penny Priddy, the only woman in Canadian history to be elected to school board, city council, provincial legislature and the House of Commons.

The Canadian Women Voters Congress and the University Women’s Club are honoured to present this event as part of their continued commitment to encouraging, educating and inspiring women as leaders.
Program:  8:45 to noon.  Lunch following the program is included.
To register:
1)  By cheque – reserve your space by phone:       604-731-4661 or by office@uwcvancouver.ca.
2)  By credit card – contact office by phone:     604-731-4661 or by office@uwcvancouver.ca
All payment must be received by Wednesday, October 14 or your registration will be cancelled.

Departures

We say goodbye to Board Member Carolyn Jack who has been instrumental in publicizing the CWVC’s work.  Carolyn led our media relations work and graciously took on the role of Event Organizer for last fall’s combined CWVC 10th anniversary and Persons’ Day celebration at the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver .  She also organized the 2009 Women’s Campaign School’s Opening Celebration.  We congratulate Carolyn on her recent appointment as the BC Chair for Equal Voice and wish her all the best. She will be greatly missed!

Books of Note

For those who believe that women’s participation in politics matters, check out Sylvia Bashevkin’s new book Women, Power, Politics: The Hidden Story of Canada’s Unfinished Democracy. Published by Oxford Press, the book outlines some compelling solutions to address the stalemate facing women in Canadian politics and is available to order online through Chapters Indigo.

Support the CWVC

Please consider making a charitable donation to the Canadian Women Voter Congress. In these uncertain financial times, we need your donations more than ever to ensure that we can continue to hold events like the Persons’ Day Education and run the Women’s Campaign School.  As we are a registered charity, you will receive a tax receipt for donations of any amount.

Make your donation or become a monthly donor securely online and receive your official receipt immediately.   Thank you for your ongoing support.

On October 17, join us in recognizing the courage and conviction of the Famous Five women who fought for our equality as persons under the law, and celebrate your rights at this unique one-day educational event.

Hosted at Hycroft, a magnificent heritage mansion located in Shaughnessy, this Persons Day celebration will include speakers, discussion and reflection related to the politics of womens lives.

Maureen F. Fitzgerald, PhD, talented mediator, bestselling author and masterful lawyer, will speak on The Truly Amazing (Invisible)

Woman: Recognizing and Promoting Womens Strengths, followed by an exclusive panel presentation with Penny Priddy, the only woman in Canadian history to be elected to school board, city council, provincial legislature and the House of Commons.

The Canadian Women Voters Congress and the University Womens Club are honoured to present this event as part of their continued commitment to encouraging, educating and inspiring women as leaders.

Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, this event is being offered at a reduced cost of $20. On October 17th, come mingle with extraordinary women and celebrate our growing political strength.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Persons Day in Canada How will you celebrate?

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Program 8:45 am to noon.

Lunch included.

For more information on the program and how to register:

www.womenvoters.ca/personsday/ or phone: 604-731-4661.

Space is limited. Registration closes at 5:00 pm, Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

FEATURED SPONSORS :

Sandra Ens

www.livingmain.com

Carrie Gallant

www.gallantsolutionsinc.com