September 2016 Vol. 4, Issue 1 MONTREAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN – LE CONSEIL DES FEMMES DE MONTRÉAL In this issue PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE President’s Message September Meeting Welcome everyone to our MCW 2017 -2018 session commencing September 7, 2017. Per usual our Doreen Chartier monthly meetings will be filled with important and interesting information, and yes, fun. And like last Page 1 year two of our meetings, October and April will be held in the evening in lieu, of the afternoon, Penny Rankin Over the summer there have been some changes to our board. We have been fortunate to have Mary Pallett added two new members, Mrs. Penny Rankin, who is an active member of the Anglican Church of Sandra Cohen-Rose Canada and Mrs. Doreen Chartier, who is a volunteer with the Children’s Wish Foundation. Mrs. Luncheon Isabelle Godefroy, our Executive Vice President has resigned from the board so that she may pursue Page 2 her personal career more actively and Mrs. Mary Pallet has agreed to become our new Executive Vice President, replacing Isabelle. We wish all four of these women much success in their new roles. NCWC 124th AGM Advocacy – F. Gregory This year our programs will touch on various aspects dealing with health in the community and our Page 3 program committee has been working diligently to compile a list of interesting speakers, who will present their particular occupations and positions in the healthcare system, be they medical, Mrs. Daisy Sweeney financial or otherwise. Announcements Page 4 - 6 I look forward to an exciting year, which promises to be both informative and insightful. Most importantly I welcome new members and all our returning members and look forward to meeting Bulletin Editor and and chatting with each one of you. Layout: S. Gyles (For this bulletin only, One last note, please feel free to contact me at any time if you have anything that you wish to share P. Rankin, will take over or perhaps could add to the improvement of MCW. - Shirley Gyles - President next month.) MCW SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon on September 7, 2017 at the cost of $10.00 per person, payable at the door. The address is: 2700 Rufus Rockhead, Montreal. Please advise S. Gyles if you plan to attend at: 450-672-7181 or e-mail: [email protected]. MCW MEETING - SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 DOREEN CHARTIER Guest Speaker and New MCW Board Member - Programs Doreen Chartier has worked with the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada for 25 years, helping bring joy to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for her work with the organization. That same year, Doreen’s dedication also prompted the Children’s Wish Foundation to name her as their National Volunteer of the Year. Doreen is a proud mother of a son and daughter, Nanny to four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was married to Lieutenant Colonel Victor G. Chartier for more than sixty years. Victor was a proud member of the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, and Doreen spent over fifty years, heavily involving herself with the Regiment’s Women's Division. Her long history of community involvement, included many years of volunteering at Saint Richard's Parish, served as a guide at the Chateau Ramezay Museum, and volunteering her time with the Girl Guides of Canada, the PTA, and other organizations. she is also currently a sister in Beta Sigma Phi. Doreen will be speaking about the Children’s Wish Foundation. Please join us for this very informative presentation. New members and guests are welcome. Montreal Council of Women / Email: [email protected] / Address: P.O. Box 72117, 151 Atwater Avenue, Montréal, QC H3J 2Z6 1 MCW The Bulletin September 2017 2016 PENNY RANKIN MARY PALLET Montreal born, Penny began her A native Montrealer, Mary eclectic career path in the UK has always loved spending where she trained to become a time with seniors. She has Montessori teacher. Her university been a counsellor at Kane studies in Canada focussed on Fetterly for over 10 years and Ethics. (Philosophy and Theology) is also self-employed full time along side her husband, in and in the UK, Montessori/Early the retail and toy industry, Childhood Education. Penny Rankin running a wholesale toy Bulletin - Editor Mary Pallet business. Executive Vice President Having taught for a few years she ‘reinvented herself’ by launching into the world of advertising...first working at With her years of experience in the funeral industry, Mary is London Broad-casting (LBC) and then as Radio Manager at most, proud of the relationships and friendships she has Saatchi and Saatchi-Downton. She also was on the editorial formed with the families she has served, guiding and board and wrote a monthly column for the trade magazine supporting them through difficult times. She is a Media World. compassionate listener and an excellent communicator whose goal is to help and support families through times of In the early 80's she returned to Canada and to teaching. transition. Throughout all these transitions, Penny has volunteered with and has sat on a number of non-profit organizations as well Mary is an active volunteer in her community; she has as working two years as the Executive Director and Staff served on the board of Generations Foundation and the Associate Minister to an inner city mission of the United NDG Community Council. Church. She is the proud mother of two teenage daughters, has a A mother of three adult children, she lives on Nuns’ Island love for the outdoors, is a runner and a recreational scuba with her husband and enjoys travel for both pleasure as well diver. as “volunteering”. (Guyana, Philippines) Currently she is an active member of the Anglican Church of Canada - and is both a member of Synod as well as sitting on the Mission Standing Committee of the Diocese of Montreal. She is also active with or on boards/committees related to refugees, the homeless and indigenous communities and recently ended her term as People's Warden at St Matthias in Westmount. ADVOCACY ACTIVITY BY MCW IS IMPORTANT In the early times of the Montreal Council, women were second class to men. History tells us that women did not have the right to vote, could not have a bank account in SANDRA COHEN-ROSE their name and could not own property. Membership in NCWC NEW PRESIDENT the Montreal Council consisted of Federates who were working to improve and educate women in need. For those of you who don’t already know, Sandra Cohen- Although the lives of women have changed considerably, Rose became NCWC’s new the MCW should continue to be actively involved in President, on Saturday, June advocacy concerns of women. 24th, in Ottawa where she was The conveners on the Board of Directors should be officially presented the gold encouraged to chair one of the general meetings covering necklace passed on to her by their subject area, this could include an open discussion the outgoing President, Karen with the attendees. The conveners should also be Dempsey. Sandra’s husband, expected to contribute articles to the Bulletin. Colin was by her side for this wonderful occasion. – S. Gyles There are many women’s issues in Montreal such women’s shelters, homeless ness, cyclists riding on the sidewalk which could be covered. – F. Gregory Montreal Council of Women / Email: [email protected] / Address: P.O. Box 72117, 151 Atwater Avenue, Montréal, QC H3J 2Z6 2 MCW The Bulletin September 2017 2016 rd NCWC 124 AGM - Ottawa As you can appreciate, aside from the business at hand, resolutions etc., NCWC’s AGM provided a most The NCWC 124th AGM, ‘Celebrate Canada’s 150th’ informative and rewarding experience which I thoroughly was held closer to home this year in Ottawa, from enjoyed. - S. Gyles Thursday, June 22nd to Sunday, June 25th and per usual, it was an enjoyable and most engaging experience. Guests stayed at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Gatineau. A much noted and honoured addition this year was the presence of the International Council of Women’s President, Jungsook Kim and some of the members of the international board coming from as far away as Australia and Lebanon. Ms. Kim came not only with greetings and information from the international community, but also bearing beautiful gifts for the NCWC board and keepsake items for the AGM attendees at large. Women from all across Canada came together for four days of lively debate, noteworthy and essential information, business and the renewal and making of new friendships. Some attendees, including the international guests had arrived earlier in the week, however the official registration started on the Thursday afternoon at the hotel where NCWC President, Karen Dempsey greeted and introduced guests. Attendees picked up their packages and later on during the evening had the choice of visiting either the National Art Gallery of Canada or the Canadian Museum of History. The following day, the Plenary Sessions started. Lunch on Friday focused on the NCWC Development Organization – Chair Carol Schweitzer. Friday evening concluded with a tour of the Art Deco French Embassy, followed by a reception. On Saturday the NCWC Education Fund – Gracia Janes, EF President - luncheon were privy to hear two very interesting speakers, Martha Fair who is a volunteer with Age Friendly Otttawa serving on the Steering committee and Stéphanie Cadieux who is a Regional Consultant for the Eastern region for Elder Abuse. She was prior to that an Outreach Worker for the Elder Abuse Response and Referral Service.