A Brief History

 

CFUW Vernon was formed in 1965 and is affiliated with the Canadian Federation of University Women. 
In November 2019 the National newsletter summarizes the 100 years of CFUW Canada - you can read The Communicator Here 

​

The remarkable industrial expansion that occurred after the beginning of the First World War opened up many opportunities for women. The increase of urban populations with its consequent industrial growth, led to opportunities for women in industry and in social work. At this time women were already well established in the teaching profession and entering medicine, law, journalism, nursing and social work in larger numbers.

​

Some of the leaders among university women in Canada had long dreamt of a national federation, but the effective impulse to found it came from Great Britain. Early in 1919, Dr. Winifred Cullis of Britain, who had spent time in Canada during the war years lecturing at Toronto University, suggested that women in Canada might wish to organize a national federation so that Canada might become one of the first countries to join in the emerging International Federation of University Women. A similar suggestion came from Virginia Gildersleeve of the American Association of University Women to the effect that, while she hoped the Canadians would form their own federation, but that they might if they preferred, be allied with the American Association.

 

Canada’s response was immediate. In March 1919 at a conference of four of the leaders in university organizations - Mrs. J.A. Cooper, President of the Toronto Club, Mrs. R.F. McWilliams, President of the Winnipeg Club; Miss May Skinner, then representing Canada on the American Association’s Committee on International Affairs; and Miss Laila Scott in Toronto, it was decided to create the Canadian Federation of University Women. A constitution was drafted and the work of getting the approval of the clubs in the establishment of the federation, their approval of a constitution and of a meeting in the coming summer was undertaken. Miss Skinner dealt with the Eastern clubs and Mrs. McWilliams with those in Western Canada.

 

The various clubs responded enthusiastically to the appeal and the organization meeting took place in Winnipeg in August of the same year. Six clubs – Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, and Victoria as well as McGill Alumnae sent delegates. The delegates adopted the proposed constitution and set the federation on its way by selecting the first officers and Chairs of Committees. Education in all its phases was declared to be the first interest of the new federation. The first matters of business included the plan to set up a Fellowship, to get women to stand for election to the Board, and support for women to engage in politics.

 

Representatives of the University Women’s Clubs of Canada met in Winnipeg in 1919 to organize the Canadian Federation of University Women. The first Officers of the Federation were:

 

Mrs. R.F. McWilliams: President (Margaret)

Miss May Skinner: First Vice President

Mrs. Douglas Thom: Second Vice President

Mrs. G.L. Lennox: Recording Secretary

Mrs. Charles Schofield: Treasurer

Mrs. Digby Wheeler: Archives

Miss Elsie Moore: Membership.

​