PAST SPEAKER SERIES
We met in our new location Knox Presbyterian church for a relaxed evening featuring Ice-cream by Four-all Ice-cream and cup cakes lovingly made by our own Carol Salisbury!
After presenting the proceeds of the book sale to the charitable fund and announcements of the slate of positions filled for next year, we had the pleasure of listening to Jane Mitchell.
Jane is community advocate extraordinaire, former Region of Waterloo Council member and now author. In her down-to-earth manner, Jane entertained us with stories of her journey from her early days as a part-time librarian at Renison College and day care founder to her long tenures as Waterloo Region District School Board Trustee and Regional Council member, to today, when she has turned her hand to writing murder mysteries.
Jane is still engaged with regional issues around water usage and development. Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe joined her at the podium to a spirited discussion around current water challenges. To close, Jane read tantalizing excerpts from her newly published novel, Bad Council.
At the April meeting, we were very fortunate to have Dr. Jenna Hennebry, a globally known migration scholar and recognized expert on gender- responsive migration governance and labour migration as our speaker.
The focus of her talk was “Two steps forward, two steps back: the impacts of backsliding on gender equality for women migrants worldwide.”
She spoke about recent research documenting backsliding on gender equality in the context of foreign policy and migration and the UN system and also the fact that Germany and Canada have each recently stepped away from their Feminist Foreign Policy.
Dr. Hennebry pointed out that even world problems such as poverty, and climate change are affected by gender inequality.
Since so many women migrants are not given the opportunity to get an education, often their only path is to be a domestic with no benefits and are often paid “under the table.”
It is appropriate that one of the resolutions to be voted on at the CFUW National conference I entitled, Response to the Education Crisis in Afghanistan.
At our March 17, 2026 General Meeting, (one year since its official opening, March 13, 2025) about 50 CFUW KW members met in the large, bright meeting room at the Southwest Library, KPL's newest location, 100 Rosenberg Way. This is a very special library! It won the Great Places Award from the city of Kitchener for their best practices of sustainable design. The Southwest Library is the first net-zero public building in Waterloo Region and is one of the first public libraries in Canada with a NetZero designation.
Amanda Wiley, Area Manager for both Pioneer Park and The Southwest Library branches, was actually involved in the original planning way back in 2006. She met with us to talk about the net-zero features and how they teamed up with the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for their input. She pointed out the test kitchen beside us and the special window markings, designed to prevent birds from flying into the windows.
The highlight of the visit was the tour of the library led by Amanda.
We saw first hand how the consultation with the Indigenous partners influenced the design in the choice of the circle motifs, the use of the colour purple, and the wood based art work. As we viewed the recording studio, Amanda pointed out the musical instruments library members can use for free. Another unique feature was the helmets, roller skates and safety pads available, also at no cost, for KPL members to use.
Along the wall of the welcoming Sunroom, facing the outdoors, we were able to view "The Canadian Library", the project supported by our club and put together by the Indigenous Issues Study Circle interest group, with the help of several other members. The bookcase holds 120 books wrapped in beautiful, colourful fabric with patterns created by Indigenous artists. Each book has a name that is embossed in gold letters on the spine. These names are from a long list of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirits.
Outside, through the swirling snow, we could see the raised beds dedicated to a learning garden as well as another food garden. Some of the plantings have deep roots in Indigenous history, like the "Three Sisters": a traditional companion planting of corn, beans, and squash. The gardens support the teaching kitchen, providing fresh veggies and herbs for cooking programs offered by the library.
More than just a building, this library is a true community anchor. It represents what is possible when a passion for bringing people together is combined with the very best in sustainable design.
It is extremely challenging to do justice to Dr. Strickland’s talk and presentation – After all she is one of the very few female professionals who has been awarded a Noble Prize. We are blessed with having her in our own backyard.
Dr. Strickland’s credentials are amazing: As a distinguished Professor in the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo, in 2018, Dr Strickland was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, for her ground-breaking inventions in high-intensity laser physics. I had not made the connection between laser physics and laser cataract surgery, which I have had, and even laser treatment on my toes! It was great to hear how she attempted to bring science this down to earth; the pin men sketches helped!
Donna shared the fascinating science behind her prestigious award and took us on a vivid behind-the-scenes look at her unforgettable Nobel Prize week in Stockholm, Sweden. Donna was engaging, down to earth and amusing. Donna took us on a journey to Stockholm: the hunt for a formal dress, which stole the show. The briefings on protocol and etiquette and being escorted into the formal dinner by the King of Sweden is something Donna will never forget. It was refreshing to hear that the King was extremely charming and down to earth.
Donna is a wonderful example of what women can do in the field of science. I worked in a high-tech company, where 4 decades ago, we hired two young women who had just graduated with degrees in Engineering from McMaster and Waterloo Universities. Back then, this was an amazing accomplishment.
It wasn’t too many decades ago, when CFUW, and teachers in academia were encouraging girls to go into mathematics and engineering. CFUW can be proud of having had a vision, for over 100 years, to encourage young women to attend University. CFUW continues to award scholarships towards that aim.
A very special thank you to Roberta Hickey who worked with the staff at Golf’s Steak House to organize the venue, the meal, and the extra seating and a thank you to Peggy Rose and the CFUW KW Program Committee.
~ Anita Davis
January General Meeting: Memoirs with Susan Scott
Author, editor and teacher Susan Scott was our special guest presenter at our January 20th General Meeting. In her engaging talk, Susan helped us understand how we might go about what some call writing our memoirs and what Susan encouraged us to think of as telling our stories. She spoke about how to not only recount the details of our stories, but how to express those everyday epiphanies and hard-to-voice experiences that often go unsaid. As Club member Sophie Wilson articulated in her thank you remarks, “Susan gave us a full and energizing exploration of memoir. She told us how to go about writing our own stories, with practical concrete advice, and gave us examples of books to read on the topic. She shared stories about how she herself learned about writing memoirs and the craft of storytelling from her 93-year-old aunt and holocaust survivors she interviewed at the start of her career.
“And most of all, Susan inspired us to find our own voices. She urged us to remember that if we have a story to tell, someone needs to hear our story. Our stories change people.”
At last Tuesday’s general meeting (Nov 18th), our members were treated to a surprisingly delightful, upbeat and entertaining account of history in Europe which led to World War 11. I only wish my history teachers in high school had presented the topic using Ken’s entertaining approach. Through his book “Shadows of Tyranny”, acclaimed author Ken McGoogan shows how the current resurgence of authoritarianism in the United States recalls Europe in the 1930s.
Using black and white slogans, cartoons and photos, Ken described the rise of dictators in Europe, and their devastating impact on the lives of millions. He draws a parallel on how “the current resurgence of authoritarianism in the United States, recalls Europe in the 1930s,” and how Donald Trump gained yet another term of office, by applying strategies used by Hitler.
Shadows of Tyranny, is described as an audacious work of nonfiction. Acclaimed author Ken McGoogan melds conventional history, political analysis, and literary observation into a genre-busting work of “cautionary nonfiction.”
Shadows of Tyranny also celebrates those who fought the racist wildfire – soldiers, of course, but also novelists like Orwell and Sinclair Lewis, journalists like Matthew Halton, Dorothy Thompson, and Martha Gellhorn, and singular figures like Hannah Arendt, Norman Bethune, and Winston Churchill.
A thank you to Wordsworth Books for displaying other publications by Ken McGoogan. As a result, I purchased a second book: “Lady Franklin’s Revenge”. Only two chapters in, the book is shaping up to be thoroughly readable. The book describes how Lady Franklin, the well-educated and resourceful wife of Sir John Franklin, orchestrated a 12-year search of his lost expedition. To quote: “Ken McGoogan tells the riveting story of a complex ambitious Victorian woman, who battling a society that denied her an active role, transformed a failed expedition into a triumphant legend.
Well worth reading…
There was more than a full house, present for the October General Meeting. The talk was dynamic, informative and timely!
Quote: “I was particularly impressed with Kathleen ’s enthusiasm and passion for her work. Her presentation was very engaging and informative, peppered with humour and an easy approachable manner.
Kathleen White, a pelvic floor physiotherapist, gave an enthusiastic and dynamic presentation on what we should know about the pelvic floor and how it affects many parts of our bodies. Her presentation showed just how enthusiastic and passionate Kathleen is about her work. She presented the topic in an engaging, informative manner, with moments of humour. She used the “blow up tube man”, (that flips around in the wind and used for outdoor advertising) to explain how the vagina moves depending on the organs around it.
We heard back from those who attended that they enjoyed her talk and learned something new. Even members who were up to date on pelvic floor physiotherapy said they enjoyed the talk and learned from it.
The “pelvic floor” is a group of muscles that control urination and bowel movements, but also supports and affects all the muscles, ligaments and organs in the pelvic area.
The pelvic floor is affected at puberty, pre and postpartum, peri menopause, and menopause. The hormonal changes especially at those times, can affect pelvic tissue, muscle strength, leakage, vaginal and pelvic tissue changes, pelvic area pain and positive stability. Many conditions in the pelvic area, from tail bone pain, deep hip pain, and prolapses may be helped by pelvic floor strengthening or relaxation.
We have all heard of Kegel exercises as the answer to incontinence, but do we know the correct way to do them or that they are not the answer for every condition? Relaxation techniques may be required for some conditions.
A couple of the big takeaways were:
o Don’t Stop moving
o Connect your breath and the core
o Do exercises and strength training
o Early intervention increases the chances of success without surgery
o Get to know your body in the pelvic area.
For pelvic floor issues, the right approach needs to the determined. A balance of strength, coordination and relaxation. A pelvic floor specialist can help you determine the right approach to help you.
Get informed and spread the word. It is no longer a dirty secret we cannot talk about.
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