Mabel Dunham Award 

Since 1957, this award at 14 local area high schools has recognized the woman graduate with the highest overall average in her best six University Entry courses. The current award is $350 per school, for a total of $4,900 each year.

This award was set up by the CFUW K-W Club to honour the memory of Dr. B. Mabel Dunham, who was the Charter President of CFUW K-W when it was founded in 1922. Mabel Dunham was chief librarian at the Kitchener Public Library from 1908 to 1944 and the first woman in Canada to hold such a position. While there, she built up the library’s collections, especially the excellent reference collection. As well, she initiated such programs as the Children’s Story Hour. As an author she contributed to the cultural heritage of Waterloo Region through such books as The Trail of the Conestoga and Grand River.

The fund was increased by a generous donation in 1992 bequeathed from Carolyn Haehnel, a fellow member of CFUW K-W and a teacher, and is now funded by club member donations and the annual used book sale.

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