WOMEN FROM ACROSS DUFFERIN-CALEDON GATHERED AT CFUW ‘WOMEN IN ACTION’ CELEBRATION - 89 YEARS OF CANADIAN WOMEN IN POLITICS
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Orangeville & District celebrated October’s Women’s History month on the eve of Persons Day. This celebration commemorates the landmark legal case brought forward by the Famous Five which ultimately led to women being included in the legal definition of ‘persons’ on October 18, 1929. This decision by Canada’s highest court of appeal overturned the Supreme Court of Canada’s prior ruling that only men were ‘persons,’ thus paving the way for Canadian women to participate more fully in public and political life.
89 years later, the evening program on Oct 17, 2018 was an opportunity for girls and women across Dufferin-Caledon to reflect on this history and to honour women leaders and politicians. Young women from local high schools, colleges and other organizations were particularly invited to attend. The event was coordinated by the Women in Action committee co-chaired by Lynda Moore and Lynn Trapnell-Cormier. Lynn was also an inspiring emcee for the evening.
The opening reflection by Deb Davidson was a call to action with words of inspiration from Maya Angelou, followed by a fascinating slide presentation by Vickie Lewis that linked women’s history in Canada with CFUW milestones, both nationally and for our local chapter.
CFUW member, Member of Provincial Parliament and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Sylvia Jones, introduced our guest speakers: Orangeville Town Councillor candidates Simran Bhamu, Lisa Post, Debbie Sherwood and Kelly Zammit. Each woman, representing a different age and stage of motherhood, sat together with facilitator Martina Rowley at the ‘kitchen table’ where they discussed the markers in their lives that led them on their own personal journey to politics, the barriers they faced along the way, and how they had risen above them. In sharing their very personal stories that were quite moving and even painful at times, we were inspired by their values, character and resilience – and reminded that leaders are not born but rather forged through each of our respective life journeys.
The closing reflection by former Mayor Mary Rose served to foster an even keener awareness, not only of women’s history in municipal politics locally, but of the history that is yet to be – the one that is ours to write. We are each on a unique journey which is informing and inspiring our own capacity for leadership, each time we see something that needs our attention, and we step up to address it.
This was a terrific event, and there is already talk of making this an annual event and opening it to an even larger audience next year!
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Orangeville & District celebrated October’s Women’s History month on the eve of Persons Day. This celebration commemorates the landmark legal case brought forward by the Famous Five which ultimately led to women being included in the legal definition of ‘persons’ on October 18, 1929. This decision by Canada’s highest court of appeal overturned the Supreme Court of Canada’s prior ruling that only men were ‘persons,’ thus paving the way for Canadian women to participate more fully in public and political life.
89 years later, the evening program on Oct 17, 2018 was an opportunity for girls and women across Dufferin-Caledon to reflect on this history and to honour women leaders and politicians. Young women from local high schools, colleges and other organizations were particularly invited to attend. The event was coordinated by the Women in Action committee co-chaired by Lynda Moore and Lynn Trapnell-Cormier. Lynn was also an inspiring emcee for the evening.
The opening reflection by Deb Davidson was a call to action with words of inspiration from Maya Angelou, followed by a fascinating slide presentation by Vickie Lewis that linked women’s history in Canada with CFUW milestones, both nationally and for our local chapter.
CFUW member, Member of Provincial Parliament and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Sylvia Jones, introduced our guest speakers: Orangeville Town Councillor candidates Simran Bhamu, Lisa Post, Debbie Sherwood and Kelly Zammit. Each woman, representing a different age and stage of motherhood, sat together with facilitator Martina Rowley at the ‘kitchen table’ where they discussed the markers in their lives that led them on their own personal journey to politics, the barriers they faced along the way, and how they had risen above them. In sharing their very personal stories that were quite moving and even painful at times, we were inspired by their values, character and resilience – and reminded that leaders are not born but rather forged through each of our respective life journeys.
The closing reflection by former Mayor Mary Rose served to foster an even keener awareness, not only of women’s history in municipal politics locally, but of the history that is yet to be – the one that is ours to write. We are each on a unique journey which is informing and inspiring our own capacity for leadership, each time we see something that needs our attention, and we step up to address it.
This was a terrific event, and there is already talk of making this an annual event and opening it to an even larger audience next year!