Connections | January 2018
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Every Woman's Place for Support, Connections and Community.
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We Reflect on 2017 and Our 20th Year of Building Community with Calgary Women
2017 marked a major milestone at the Women's Centre as we celebrated our 20th year of supporting women in our community. In October, our celebrations culminated at our event for community members from 1997 - 2017 who came together to celebrate the impact we have had on our community. We connected over memories shared by Yvonne Stanford, our first board chair, and Dorothy Wong and Kerry Lynn Okita, our current board co-chairs.
It was a great end to the celebrations we have had since our AGM in April. Mayor Naheed Nenshi kicked things off by bringing us greetings and encouragement from the city. We put this good energy into two new programs: Artist in Residence and Women & Environment (you can read more about them below). Our annual events like our,
Feminist Walk, also had a 20th anniversary theme. As we move into the next twenty years, we honour our history and the spirit which kept the Women's Centre open for two decades. We thank our community for their support and can't wait to see what the next 20 years will bring!
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A Look Back at Some of the Top Around the Web Articles from 2017
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Call out for Tax Clinic Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the upcoming tax season.
Please note that
we will only consider volunteers who have their E-File approved applications from the CRA dated before December 31, 2017. Interviews will take place in January.
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Knitting Circle is Asking for Yarn Donations
The Knitting Circle has asked for yarn donations! If you have some yarn from previous projects that you would like to donate please bring it by the centre. We really appreciate your support!
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Girl Programs at the Women's Centre are Back!
Our Girl Programs are open to all young people who identify as girls. There is no screening process. The programs are all free! We provide supplies, food and bus tickets to ensure everyone who wishes to has a chance to participate.
Girl Power After School (grades 5 and 6) starts Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Girl Force (grades 7 and 9) starts Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Girl Up (grades 10 and 12) starts Monday, January 8, 2018
For more information please visit our
website
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Upcoming Workshops
Our workshops are free and open to all women. View and register for the January workshops online
here.
Paint Night | Wednesday, January 10, 6:00-8:00pm
Join us for our Monthly Paint Night! In January, we will set intent for the New Year with Dragonfly Vision Boards. You will take home a beautiful personalized painting that you'll be proud to frame and display.
Self-Defense | Thursdays, January 11, 18 & 25, 6:00-7:30 pm
Explore what situations a
nd behaviours are safe and which are not. Learn basics on how to stay safe in your daily life and in difficult situations and how you can defend yourself against an attacker. This is a consecutive four week series and participants must attend the entire series.
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Connecting the Dots - 2017 Was the First Year for Our Women and Environment Program
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In January, 2017, the Women's Centre launched a Women and Environment program. Women in our community told us they were interested in learning more about environmental issues and we responded by establishing a monthly discussion series aimed at creating space for women to talk about environmental problems and sustainable solutions.
We kicked the year off with a discussion on Women and Climate Change. We were overwhelmed when more than 80 women came to the Centre to learn about the ways in which women are uniquely impacted by some of the most significant environmental problems of our time. From there, we delved into a variety of topics, including, eco-feminism, energy empowerment, consumerism, and indigenous perspectives. Our discussions were organized by the amazing women of our Environmental Issues Committee, a group of dedicated volunteers who lend us their time and skills to bring environmental learning to our Centre.
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Showcasing local talent - Our new Artist in Residence Program
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Our Artist in Residence program was also new for 2017 and featured workshops and installations from a different Calgary artist each season. We hosted (clockwise from top left):
We were so honored to have some of Calgary's most talented artists partner with us in the first year of our Artist in Residence program, and we are excited to take this program to new heights in 2018.
The Artist in Residence program is an opportunity for women in our community to connect with female artists in Calgary. Established in celebration of our 20th anniversary, we selected one female artist or group of artists for each season of the year, providing women with opportunities to learn from and work with prominent Calgary artists. Our Artist-in-Residence led skills building workshops and performed at special Women's Centre events.
We are pleased to announce that Girls Rock Camp will be joining us as our first Artist in Residence of 2018.
Girls Rock Camp provides a space for girls aged 12-17 to engage in musical education and performance in a positive and female-centric environment, using free expression to promote self-esteem and empowerment.
Stay tuned for more details!
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Provincial Childcare, Civic Politics and Budgets
Childcare was at the forefront earlier this year. After the Province launched a $25/day program, the Women's Centre teamed up with the
First 2000 Days Network and
Vibrant Communities Calgary to engage the early learning and child care community and talk about how the city can support more accessibility, quality and affordability.
The Women's Centre approached the 2017 municipal election as an opportunity to talk about how local issues are affecting women in our community. Along with other members of Calgary's poverty reduction social policy body, we organized a learning session for candidates to talk to different organizations. Volunteers wrote blogs on the importance of voting and answered questions on how to vote. We were excited to see so many female candidates.
And last but not least, budgets. Potential cuts to transit and the funding shortfall for the Low-Income Transit Pass Sliding Scale had us worried. Thanks to an outpouring of support from volunteers and community members writing and calling their councillors, and some great work from partners at
Fair Calgary Community Voices, the sliding scale program lives on.
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2017 Social Issues Discussion Highlights
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Social Issues Discussions, organized by volunteers and hosted on the first Wednesday of every month, continue to grow! In the past year, we've talked about transgender women, anti-racist organizing, craftivism, childcare, refugees, work, women in politics and much more. Keep an eye open for our next Social Issues Discussion: Anti-Racism 101: Get Empowered to Confront Racism. This has been postponed until February, but keep posted for details and date once confirmed.
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Our Vision: Women Supporting Communities, Communities Supporting Women.
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