Volume 53 No. 1 October 2019
Canadian Federation of University Women – Ottawa CapitalCapital CarillonCarillon
October General Meeting PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HEATHER LEWIS fter a successful Season Opener on May, leader of the Green Party. Other DATE and Monday, October 7, 2019, TIME: 7:30 p.m. ASeptember 16th, our new season engaging speakers celebrated our work is well underway. Have you noticed in advocacy and our history. We dis- Place: Riverside Churches, 3191 Riverside Drive, that we have exciting, new Interest cussed building for the future as well. Ottawa, K1V 8N8 Groups? (See page 3.) Our speakers CFUW-Ottawa was honoured with an (by Mooney's Bay) at our October 7th meeting, Gerald award for recruiting new members and OUR SPEAKER SERIES LAUNCHES Oakham and Peter Black, will be ad- received the International Relations WITH THE HOTTEST TOPIC OF THE dressing a very topical subject, Global Award for our April 2019 seminar, PRESENT TIME! Warming and What to do About It. Empowerment Through Education: A SPEAKERS: Peter Black and Remember that General Meetings are Global Agenda for Women and Girls. Gerald Oakham open to the public and not restricted to During the business session, TOPIC: Global Warming and women only, so please feel free to invite important votes were taken. The What to Do About It any friends who may be interested. Memorandum of Understanding Global warming is We tend to think of the summer (MoU) between the CFUW and real and, whether you as vacation time, and so it is. However, GWI—on our website under News think it is a natural this summer has also been a particu- and Announcements—was ratified by larly busy and noteworthy one for phenomenon, or cre- (see President on next page) ated by human activ- CFUW members. Graduate Women Peter Black ity, or both, there is no International (GWI) held its 33rd INSIDE denying that humans Triennial General Assembly in Geneva, must attempt to miti- from July 25th to 29th, celebrating the Mark Your Calendars th gate its effects. 100 anniversary of GWI’s foundation. Convenors of the Month (See page 8.) Hally Siddons was there as Peter Black, a re- Climate Change and Biodiversity Gerald Oakham a CFUW delegate and will share some tired environmental New Study and Interest Groups of her observations at our October policy advisor to the federal gov- At the Musical Lunch ernment, and Gerald Oakham, a General Meeting. A Long Time Member – Peg Taylor Distinguished Research Professor in Many Ottawa members partici- Diplomatic Hospitality Group science from Carleton University, pated in the CFUW’s Annual General will outline what we know about the Meeting in Winnipeg, from August Report of Ontario Council th th problem and what governments and 15th to 17 , our own 100 anniver- Report of CFUW-Ottawa AGM individuals can do about it. sary. (The Fort Garry Hotel, where Report of UWHAW's Dinner for Hope This is an important the conference was held, was the very Did You Know? topic — members are en- location at which representatives of the Little Theatre, Big History University Women’s Clubs of Canada couraged to invite Holiday Party had met to launch the CFUW in their friends. Appeal for Volunteers 1919.) The speakers included Elizabeth Capital Carillon October 2019
President – continued a large majority. 60% of votes cast were in favour of the “Winnipeg Motion” (which gave individuals a choice as to whether or not to pay fees for member- ship in GWI) and 40% voted against. Since this required a two-thirds major- ity, it was defeated. A vote to increase the dues for the CFUW by $6 per member was passed with a large major- ity. Notwithstanding the MoU, a vote to increase dues paid to GWI by $10 was defeated, with 160 voting for it and 169 against. This vote also required a two-thirds majority. The highlight of the AGM was CFUW AGM in Winnipeg the Friday night gala banquet at which “One Hundred CFUW Notable LOOKING AHEAD TO CFUW EVENTS IN 2019 AND 2020 Women” from across the country were honoured; 68 of these were present in MARK YOUR CALENDARS! person. We were so proud to have many of our CFUW-Ottawa members hon- All General Meetings take place at the Riverside Churches, 3191 Riverside Drive. oured: Alice Bolt, Ann Denis, Margaret Haines, Fran Manning, Dorothy 2019 Phillips, Hally Siddons and Lizz Monday, October 7, 7:30 p.m. – General Meeting with guest speaker. Wilfert. Susan Russell from CFUW- Nepean and Marianne Wilkinson from Monday, November 4, 7:30 p.m. – General Meeting with guest speaker. CFUW-Kanata were also among the Sunday, December 1, 12 noon to 3 p.m. – Holiday Party at the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive. (See back page.) Notable Women. Alice Bolt also won one of the antique IFUW pins in the 2020 raffle. This was a good evening for us! Monday, January 6, 1 p.m. (with an option of lunch at noon) – General Meeting with guest speaker. The theme of the 2019 National AGM was 100 Years of CFUW—The Monday, February 3, 1 p.m. (with an option of lunch at noon) – General Meeting with guest speaker. Power of Women Working Together. We Monday, March 2, 7:30 p.m. – General Meeting and Scholarship Awards. are now looking forward to the 2020 National AGM here in Ottawa, with the Monday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. – General Meeting with guest speaker. theme New Century, New Challenges. Thursday, April 23 – Musical Lunch in aid of scholarships for young women Patricia Duffey and Christine Rollo, in Ottawa and Kabul. co-chairs, are capably starting to get Saturday, May 2 – CFUW-Ottawa AGM at the Rideau Canal Junior Ranks all the pieces in place with the help Mess, 4 Queen Elizabeth Drive. (See back page.) of a truly stellar Local Arrangements Thursday, June 4 – Dinner for Hope in aid of scholarships for young women in Kabul. Committee. (See page 10.) You are going to hear much more about this; it is an Thursday, June 18 to Saturday, June 20 – CFUW-National AGM, Delta Hotel, Ottawa. honour for us to be hosting the event.
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Convenors of the Month: Beth Doubt and Climate Change and Biodiversity Kringen Henein It is easy to feel overwhelmed promote them to a wider audi- by the magnitude of the ence where appropriate. A challenges we face, yet women’s perspective is very there are choices we can much needed. Come and make and actions we can join the discussion. take. Our goal will be to dis- This is a new Study and cover how to reduce our carbon Interest Group for CFUW- footprint, protect biodiversity, Ottawa members, that will meet and make a difference individu- on the second Monday of each ally and as a society to the health month, from 7-9 p.m. Write to L-R: Kringen and Beth, photo by Doug Doubt of the planet. We shall share our [email protected], or ideas with other CFUW mem- [email protected], if you would Beth worked for 25 years at bers through the newsletter and like further information. Environment Canada. She first joined CFUW for the camarade- rie and skiing in CFUW-Ottawa’s Gatineau Trails Group, to which Study and Interest Groups for the she still belongs. She is also in the National Gallery Study Group and 2019-20 Season Crime Fiction Book Club. Kringen Most of last year’s groups are still going strong, and the following new taught Biology and Environmental groups have been added to our list of choices: Science at Carleton University for 15 years. She has been active in the • CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY (see box above) Gatineau Trails Group, Madrigals, • DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY and the former Environmental Toxins and Health Study Group, • MODERN BOARD GAMES and has participated in the devel- • OTTAWA LITTLE THEATRE (see page 9) opment of two CFUW resolutions. Both have a deep appreciation for • SNOWSHOEING IN THE WILD nature. • SATURDAY AT THE MOVIES
The Capital Carillon is published monthly • WALKING CITY TRAILS from October to May, except for January. If any of these interest you, go to this page on our website to find out more: Suggestions and comments are always https://www.cfuw-ottawa.org/page-809208 welcome. Please send all material for the next issue to Alison Hobbs, You may wish to join one or more of our established External Outreach [email protected]. Next issue, Groups as well (Diplomatic Hospitality, HIPPY, Madrigals, UWHAW). November 2019; deadline for submis- See https://www.cfuw-ottawa.org/page-1863104. sions, October 15. Previous issues Questions? Contact cfuw.studiesandinterest@gmail or call Karen Shigeishi- are archived on the Club website, at Waite at 613-297-6653. www.cfuw-ottawa.org.
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At the Musical Lunch
On April 25th, 2019, at the Royal Photos by G. Pacey Hobbs and A. Ottawa Golf Club, CFUW-Ottawa held its annual Musical Lunch and Silent Auction, organized by our ex- ternal outreach group, University Women Helping Afghan Women (UWHAW), under the leadership of Lorna Bickerton. The auction was ably managed by Lizz Wilfert, and Alice Bolt took re- sponsibility for the door prizes, a raffle and a 50/50 draw. In addition, the members of CFUW-Ottawa’s Gatineau of Ottawa and at Algonquin College. favourite movement is the Sarabande, a Trails group presented a donation of For the 14th year in succession, stately Spanish dance. She told us that $1000 to UWHAW. Altogether, this Mary Partington had made the ar- her instrument is a modern, “very good event raised $6669.15 in scholar- rangements for the musical compo- copy” of a 17th century Amati viola, ship funds for underprivileged young nent of the event, introducing violist played with a genuinely 17th century, women at the Gawharshad Institute of Alisa Klebanov, who won the NAC’s German bow. Higher Education in Kabul. 2018 Orchestra Bursary Competition; A heartfelt thank you to the many Through the sale of tickets to she has recently become a member of volunteers, donors and other support- the Musical Lunch, $2880 was also the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. ers of this thoroughly enjoyable event. raised for CFUW-Ottawa’s Scholarship During our splendid lunch Alisa gave a Trust Fund, paying for scholarships at complete solo performance of the 3rd Carleton University, at the University Cello Suite by J.S. Bach arranged for the viola: a “dramatic and atmospheric” work in which each movement con- cludes with the chord of C-major. Alisa’s
Alisa performing Alisa speaking at the lunch
Alisa Klebanov, Mary Partington, Marlene Hewitt
4 October 2019 Capital Carillon A Longtime Member
By Heather Lewis ore than half a dozen members were available. Her responsibility was Mof the Canadiana interest group Visiting Homemakers. The time was are over ninety, but none have been ripe; the United Way offered start up members of CFUW for quite as long money, the Red Cross critical assistance as Margaret “Peg” Taylor—Ottawa, and advice and an instructor was hired. 1946-47, Fredericton, 1947-2004, and The first class of (four) Homemakers Ottawa, 2004 to today. graduated at the end of March 1972 Peg is a botanist who eventu- and all were immediately hired by ally specialized in environmental the Province. Peg joined the VON management. Her husband Ron, also Fredericton Board in 1972 and re- a botanist, was one of a small group mained a member for 29 years, eventu- worldwide who studied seaweeds ally serving terms as President of VON, and sea grasses. They were based in Fredericton, President of VON, NB, Photo by Heather Lewis Fredericton, New Brunswick, teach- and as a member of the National Board. ing at UNB, but travelled widely on Also in 1972, Peg joined the Champlain Towers seems to sym- sabbatical leave. Their first sabbatical staff of the newly formed provin- bolize her wide range of experience, to St. Andrews, Scotland, with four cial Department of Environment knowledge and experience. For Peg, sons aged four to eleven was a memo- as Executive Coordinator for the CFUW Clubs should be more than rable challenge. Subsequent sabbaticals Environmental Council which was mere “social clubs.” She believes that to Plymouth, England, a year split advisory to the Minister. After retire- the women of the CFUW most wor- between Adelaide, Australia, and St. ment she served a term on a commit- thy of recognition are not those who Andrews, and finally a year in Perth, tee advisory to the Minister of Natural remain in the Club for the longest Australia, were also special. Resources. Her enjoyment of extensive time, but those who embody our With her co-workers at the travel continued after her move to Mission Statement: “…to promote Experiment Farm, Peg joined the Ottawa in 2004. quality education, improve the status Ottawa University Women’s Club in The panoramic view from her of women and girls and participate in the fall of 1946, but with her move present apartment on the 11th floor of public affairs.” to Fredericton in the fall of 1947 she became more deeply involved, initially with a study group working to establish Diplomatic Hospitality a children’s library. The project grew rapidly to include an adult library which soon became part of a newly formed provincial library system. Other study groups ranged from employment oppor- tunities for the physically handicapped to penal reform. In September 1971 Peg was asked to become part of a VON committee, working to ensure that all the components necessary for The Diplomatic Hospitality Group and guests toured the Canada Art Bank on May 3rd, 2019. 48 people a provincial Home Care Program from 19 different countries were present at this event.
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Ontario Council Annual General Meeting May 10-11 By Gail Tyerman CFUW club executives and interested Three workshops CFUW members from across Ontario on the theme of empow- gathered at the luxurious University of erment through educa- Toronto Faculty Club for the 40th Annual tion provided diverse General Meeting of the Ontario Council of and powerful examples CFUW to conduct Ontario Council busi- of women making a dif- ness, celebrate successes, and be inspired. ference in their com- The main Ontario Council business munities in such var- was the adoption of new by-laws bringing ied areas as book clubs Kathleen Wynne Sandra Thomson, President of the the Ontario Council rules into accordance in prisons and refugee Ontario Council of CFUW with the latest Ontario legislation gov- resettlement. about the meeting and plan to attend next erning NGOs. It took a committee 18 Heather Lewis and Gail Tyerman year’s AGM that will probably be held in months to review the existing by-laws and attended from CFUW-Ottawa. Mary a resort near Orillia. Find out about what develop amendments, after listening care- Partington participated as regional direc- your Ontario Council fees support and fully to club concerns. The result was a tor for Eastern Ontario. Talk to them have fun too. smooth, unanimous passage by the AGM. Other business was routine: approval of the budget and the Ontario Council CFUW-Ottawa AGM Board. Board members took the oppor- The 109th Annual General Meeting of CFUW- tunity to outline the positive experience Ottawa was held at midday on May 4 at the Riverside they were having and to encourage all to Churches. consider joining the Board in the future. Heather Lewis, CFUW-Ottawa President, for- Former Ontario Premier and keynote mally welcomed all in attendance, Barb Newbegin speaker Kathleen Wynne held the audience gave a toast to the Club, Joan Tyler gave a toast to in rapt attention as she recounted the peaks the Queen, and Gail Tyerman said grace. and troughs of her life story. While she The business of the AGM is minuted on the regrets that many of the reforms she cham- Club’s website. During the procedures, the year’s pioned in office are being repealed by the Pink Rose Award was presented to Mary Broderick current government of Ontario, she thinks by Christine Rollo. Mary joined our Club in 2012 that some of her government’s accomplish- and has made many contributions to CFUW Ottawa ments will endure. As one example, she cited since then, in- the reform of the Canada Pension Plan to cluding help benefit future generations of Canadians. at the 2019 AGM itself. Mary Broderick (left) with Christine The Sage Rollo Award was presented in absentia by Heather to Peg Taylor who joined the CFUW in 1946 (see page 5) — this National CFUW award is given to the longest standing member of the Fran Harding serves wine at the AGM CFUW in each of its branches.
6 October 2019 Capital Carillon UWHAW’s Summer Fundraiser: the Dinner for Hope
On the evening of June 11th, at the Olexiuk for arranging Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club, 106 guests for our guest speaker, of University Women Helping Afghan H.E. Roya Rahmani, Women were looked after with great Ambassador of the Islamic
care by the staff and by UWHAW vol- Republic of Afghanistan Bickerton David by Photos unteers. The dining area was attractive to the United States, to indeed, with the colours of the Afghan share her experiences and flag replicated in the napkins on each hopes. Formerly been an table. CFUW member Marie Riopelle Ambassador to Indonesia, had arranged the centrepieces, and at to the Association of each table were biographies of some of South East Asian Nations, UWHAW currently supports this group of students at the Gawharshad the Afghan girls we sponsor. Two videos and to Singapore, Her Institute were shown at the beginning and end of Excellency also has a Canadian con- desire peace grounded in democracy, the evening. The first, sent to us from nection, having graduated from McGill stability, education and rights for all, Gawharshad, included thanks from Dr. and having co-founded the Ottawa a vision that can only be accomplished Sima Samar and some of our sponsored Chapter of CW4WA. Perhaps most with the involvement of all the citizens girls, giving the donors a glimpse of significantly, she is a role model for of Afghanistan. where their dollars went. The second educated Afghan women, working on The evening also presented the was greetings from the Hon. Maryam behalf of all Afghans as they strive to- opportunity to meet a representative of Monsef who thanked us for continuing ward a long overdue dream that must the Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa, to empower Afghan girls through their one day become a reality. During the the 3rd Secretary, Ms Shabana Kargar. education. day the Ambassador had visited the Congratulations to the event’s tire- The dinner was delicious and the Afghanistan Memorial Hall and spoke less co-chairs Lorna Bickerton and Lizz evening ran like clockwork, with time movingly about our fallen soldiers. She Wilfert and their assistants who made to visit our beautifully displayed Silent said that the majority of the Afghan this event such a success. Dr. Samar Auction. To entice bidders, a detailed population is women and young people, wrote from Kabul to thank UWHAW, description of each item had been cir- her country’s greatest asset. Empowered saying, “Your support changes the life culated before the event. by their education, young Afghans are of so many young people in our society We are grateful to the Program stepping up to make their hope for and contributes greatly to the recon- Chair Hally Siddons and to Eileen peace and prosperity a reality. They struction of Afghanistan.”
Ambassador Roya Rahmani, Left to right: Ms. Shabana Kargar, rd3 Secretary of the Islamic Republic of CFUW-Ottawa members Mira Hadden and guest speaker. Afghanistan in Ottawa, Eileen Olexiuk (UWHAW), Lorna Bickerton (UWHAW), Silvija Parker at the Dinner For Hope. H.E. Roya Rahmani, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the USA, Lizz Wilfert (UWHAW), Hally Siddons (UWHAW).
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Did you know…?
CFUW-Ottawa celebrated its centenary in 2010 by hosting the CFUW National AGM and we shall be honoured to host the next CFUW AGM in June 2020. This August, CFUW celebrated its centenary by gathering for our AGM at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, just as our sisters had done for the first time in August 1919. Our history is one of friendships, social involve- ment, advocacy and achievements, as an organization and as individuals. To honour particular contributions to the CFUW, 100 Notable Women had been selected from the membership nationwide. CFUW-Ottawa was honoured to have seven members recognized as Notable Women (see President’s Message on page 1), each of whom was awarded a special certificate, saying:“In gratitude for the role you have played in honouring and furthering CFUW’s vision.” Ann Denis received the award posthumously, as did Fran Manning, whose husband participated in the ceremony. Our international affiliate, Graduate Women International (GWI) also celebrated its centennial at therd 33 Tri- ennial GWI General Assembly and Peace Through Education Conference in Geneva this July. For women in the developing world, GWI is a connection to women in wealthier countries. Twenty CFUW members (including Hally Siddons from CFUW-Ottawa) attended the Triennial, Canada being one of 51 countries represented. Six countries were welcomed as new affiliates, including Haiti.
Left to right:, Notable Women Dorothy Phillips, Elizabeth Wilfert, Hally Siddons and Margaret Haines. Hally was wearing a period outfit of 1919.
8 October 2019 Capital Carillon Little Theatre, Big History
Adapted from an article by Francois Bregha in the June issue of the Sandy Hill newsletter “IMAGE”, contributed by Marlene Hewitt.
The Ottawa Little Theatre on King Edward Avenue at Besserer Street originated in 1913, when the University Women’s Club formed a Drama League to encourage amateur theatre in Ottawa. The purpose then was to ensure good attendance at deserving plays while ignoring “unworthy” ones. Under the leadership of Duncan Campbell Scott, the celebrated the theatre thrived, attracting is one of North America’s oldest poet, the League raised enough diplomats and members of high continuously producing com- funds to buy the Eastern Method- society. The theatre’s importance munity theatre companies. All ist Church, whose congregation was further enhanced by host- directors, designers, actors and had recently moved after merging ing the newly formed Dominion stage crew are volunteers and the with St Paul’s Presbyterian Church Drama Festival for its first five years theatre earns most of its income at Daly Avenue and Cumberland in the 1930s. through ticket sales, making it a Street in 1925. The original Eastern Method- truly community-based organiza- When the Governor Gen- ist Church building was destroyed tion. Today, the OLT specializes eral, Lord Willingdon, officially by fire in 1970, and the new theatre in popular dramas and comedies, opened the theatre in 1928, it was was constructed on its site. offering nine plays a year. described as the largest and best Several well-known Canadian equipped of its kind in Canada. actors and comedians played at CFUW-Ottawa continues to sup- There was no local professional the OLT, including Rich Little, port the Ottawa Little Theatre theatre in Ottawa, and after the Dan Ackroyd ad William Shatner. with an annual donation of $500, Russell Theatre closed, it was the Yusuf Karsh, the famous photog- the 3rd place prize in its annual only show in town. In the 1930s, rapher, volunteered backstage and playwriting contest. This is given in an anonymous patron wrote, “The credits his experimentation with honour of Gladys Cameron Watt, Drama League is entitled to public stage lighting for helping him founder member of the OLT and a thanks for its continued good work light portraits. He not only met CFUW-Ottawa member. This year, in providing civilized plays in a influential people there, such as Gail Tyerman is convening an veritable dramatic desert.” Under Lord Bessborough, whose portrait Ottawa Little Theatre Interest the Governor General’s patron- he took, but also his future wife, Group, that will attend its produc- age—Lord Bessborough not only Solange Gauthier. tions on a regular basis. Contact attended plays but designed sets, In its first century the OLT [email protected], if you’d like to and his son played several roles— has staged over 1000 plays and participate.
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CFUW-OTTAWA HOLIDAY PARTY 2019
The main fundraiser for our Scholarship Trust Fund Elegant Hot and Cold Buffet: Family and Friends Welcome
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, noon to 3 p.m. — Clark Room, RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa
Bake Sale ● Grab Bags ● Raffle ● Jewelry Sale ● Door Prizes ● Silent Auction ● Entertainment
Buy tickets at $50 (including taxes and service charge) by November 25:
• by contacting Alice Bolt at 613-731-5221 or at [email protected]. • at the October and November General Meetings. • by registering online at www.cfuw-ottawa.org/events.
Make cheques payable to CFUW-Ottawa and send to Alice Bolt, 1531 Caton St., Ottawa, ON, K1H 6J3.
Please contact Elaine McKnight at [email protected] if you’d like to reserve a table for 8. Unfortunately, we can’t do this for a group of fewer than 8 people.
Volunteers are needed to make this a successful event. If you’d like to help, please contact Norma Pike at [email protected].
Contact Mary Broderick at 613-421-1445 or Elaine McKnight at [email protected] if you can donate items to be used for the door prizes, grab bags, raffle and silent auction. These items must be new. The more we receive, the more money we’ll be able to raise for our scholarships. If your Study and Interest group would like to make a donation, please contact us.
Special thanks to the trustees of Scholarship Trust, the Board members and the committee chairs for their generous donation of two raffle baskets.
CFUW Annual General Meeting June 2020 As you know, CFUW-Ottawa is hosting CFUW’s national Annual General Meeting, June 18-20, 2020. The theme is New Century – New Challenges. Patricia Duffey and Christine Rollo co-chair the Local Arrangements Committee that is made up of nine sub-committees. Our committee volunteers have already been working hard to nail down all the details that will make this event a success, but are looking for extra help.
The Program sub-committee needs a few more dedicated ladies to work on developing the program and workshops; the Sponsorship and Venues teams need more people, too. The Volunteers sub-committee is seeking help with jobs immediately before and during the AGM. If you’d like to volunteer as an ambassador, greeter, “go-for”, tour- or dinner-driver, let us know.
Please contact [email protected].
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