The women of CFUW Vernon were very active in learning about and promoting the status of women locally and nationally.  Not long after the formation of the club, the federal government formed the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, whose members interviewed women across the country regarding changes they proposed to improve the status of women and women’s equality with men.  While Vernon was not on the list of scheduled locations for a session, Lola Lange, one of the commissioners who came to BC, made time to stop in Vernon and attend a meeting with many local women that was arranged by CFUW Vernon.  The Commission made 167 recommendations on improving the status of women, which resulted in many improvements to women’s equality with men.  Some areas that continue to be problematic today, though, are violence against women, women’s and children’s poverty, pay equity, and gender equality.

 

The club held public presentations on a variety of subjects, including the plight of “deserted women” and the barriers to getting men to support the families they had left.  Other areas of concern were pollution, waste water management, the lack of child care, and First Nations culture.

 

The Club had a strong focus on education, donating an encyclopedia set to Okanagan College to strengthen its Reference collection, and instituted a scholarship for a mature student.  The first award of $200 went to James Richmond, who was attending the University of Victoria after attending Okanagan College.  At present, CFUW Vernon grants two $1,500 scholarships each year to students at Okanagan College, Vernon campus.

 

In 1972, CFUW Vernon instituted a speaker series called Capsule College, which continued until 2015.  The presentations were held at Okanagan College, with child care provided.  Speakers were often College instructors, who spoke on topics as varied as Physics for Poets, Eugenics, Life in Victorian Times, and Mental Health. 

 

The Club’s Eco-home Tours, which raised funds to support two scholarships at Okanagan College, were very popular in the years pre-pandemic.  Home-owners of environmentally-friendly houses opened their homes to the public for tours and presentations of the special features and advantages of their homes.  Some homes use geothermal heating and cooling, solar power, or net-zero energy.  Some were LEED certified.

 

Throughout its 56 year history, CFUW Vernon has raised funds to support groups that provide education, counselling, a safe haven from violence, and food and shelter for women and families locally, as well as in other countries.  The Club also advocates on improvements to the status of women in the areas of health care, aging, the environment, violence against women, child care, gender-equal pay, and more.  Recent advocacy efforts are focussed on Long Term Care, Single-Use Plastics, the Right to Repair, Post-Pandemic Recovery for Women, and the Opioid Crisis.

 

Members also continue to expand their horizons with speakers at each meeting.  This year, the theme is Notable Local Women and has included presentations on Lady Aberdeen and Sveva Caetani, and a presentation by Elaine Alec, author of Calling My Spirit Back.  An upcoming meeting will feature Hilda Cryderman, a founding member of CFUW Vernon and recipient of the Order of Canada.

 

CFUW Vernon holds presentations to celebrate International Women’s Day (this year with a poetry contest) and promotes awareness about Violence Against Women with public programs.

 

The physical and mental health of members is supported with a hiking/snowshoeing group, Coffee and Chat (discussion on a designated topic), a book club, and social events such as a year end picnic. 

 

CFUW Vernon holds meetings on the third Monday of the month from September to May and welcomes guests and new members.  A university degree is no longer required for membership.