The University Women’s Club of New Westminster recently held a special centennial celebration.
Founded in 1913, the group’s Oct. 20 gathering at the public library celebrated its 100th anniversary. The local group is one of the oldest affiliate clubs in the Canadian Federation of University Women, which was established in 1919 and has nearly 9,000 members across Canada.
Guests and well-wishers at the centennial celebration included: Jeanette Mergens, president of the B.C. Council of the Canadian Federation of University Women; Linda Russell, regional director for B.C. West; Susan Murphy, the organization’s national president; former New Westminster MLA Anita Hagen; Barbara Hall, president of the B.C. Council of Women; Gail Cooper, chair of the New Westminster library board; Debra Nelson, community services librarian at the New Westminster Public Library; and Tracy Green of the Douglas College Foundation. Greetings from Mayor Wayne Wright, New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly and Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian were also read aloud.
Murphy presented the group with a copy of Linda Kay’s book, The Sweet Sixteen: The Journey that Inspired the Canadian Women’s Press Club. The University Women’s Club is presenting the book to the New Westminster Public Library to show its gratitude for its long association with the library.
Once the celebration’s formalities finished, the Hycroft Singers from the University Women’s Club of Vancouver serenaded guests, and members of the University Women’s Club of Coquitlam served tea and cake provided by the local group.
In addition to continuing to promote education, rights and opportunities for women, the University Women’s Club of New Westminster supports women in post-secondary education through its endowment funds at Douglas College and the University of British Columbia.
For more information, see www.cfuw.org.
Helpers wanted
The Canadian Cancer Society is looking for leaders to help with its annual Daffodil campaign.
The society’s B.C. and Yukon division is looking for leadership volunteers to help with the campaign that’s held every April. There’s a particular need for a “street team leader” for New Westminster.
“It is a wonderful organization, and the New West team is amazing,” New Westminster resident and society volunteer Heidi Clarksonsaid in a press release.
The street team program consists of teams of volunteers promoting pins and cut daffodils in pre-assigned locations, including malls and street corners. The program complements the pin distribution program, a retail effort designed to increase the impact of the daffodil campaign.
According to Clarkson, the campaign is primarily a fundraising program, but it also raises awareness of the society’s support programs.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Huda Al-Saedy at the Canadian Cancer Society at 604-215-5203.
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