CANADIAN FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
CFUW Nelson & District
Activities
April 18, 2026 presenter Joanne Motta
Join us Saturday April 18, 2026 at 1:30 pm at Nelson Seniors Centre to hear guest speaker Joanne Motta present about Nelson CARES Affordable Housing program.
March 2026 CFUW at UN CSW70
March 9-20, 2026 is the UN Commission on the Status of Women: CSW70. Read CFUW's October 2025 submission to CSW70 on: “consequences of failing to ensure access to justice for all women and girls.”
February 21, 2026 presenter Laura Townend, Grandmothers United in Solidarity
Laura Townend spoke about the work of the Grandmothers Campaign, the Stephen Lewis Foundation and several agencies in South Africa and Eswatini. We heard stories and videos how 16 Canadian Grandmothers and Grand-others travelled to meet with South African and Eswatini Gogos advocacy groups --witnessing their resiliency, positivity, and hope.
October 18, 2025 Toni & Jocelyn Banyard present on the Malambo Grassroots Project in Zambia
Our guest speakers Toni & Jocelyn Banyard presented on Malambo Grassroots, a project co-founded by CFUW member Marylee Banyard (1935-2022) that works with rural communities in Zambia with a focus on education, climate change mitigation, and community development.
2026 Monthly Meeting Saturdays at 1:30 pm
location: Nelson Seniors Centre, 717 Vernon St.
Jan. 24: Dr. Marcia Braundy & Cynthia Fraser, Employment Equity
Feb. 21: Laura Townend, Grandmothers United in Solidarity.
Feb. 28: Coldest Night of the Year
March 21: national policy review
April 18: Joanne Motta, Nelson CARES Affordable Housing
May 26: AGM & social potluck at member's house
Summer: TBA
Oct: host All Candidates Forum prior to Municipal Election on Oct 17, 2026.
March 21, 2026 national policy resolutions
Saturday March 21, 2026 at 1:30 pm we will discuss 2 proposed national policy resolutions: 1. Canadian Response to the Education Crisis in Afghanistan, and 2. Countering Disinformation in Canada. Across Canada, CFUW National engages in policy advocacy on gender equity, education and other National Campaigns. Local clubs vote on new policy priorities.
February 28, 2026 CFUW team raises $1950 on Coldest Night of the Year!
THANKS to everyone who walked and sponsored our CFUW Nelson & District CNOY team! We raised $1950 for Nelson CARES Society and the Ready for Home program that supports residents at Ward Street Place residents to stay warm and safely housed.
January 24, 2026 Dr. Marcia Braundy & Cynthia Fraser presented on Employment Equity
Dr. Marcia Braundy and Cynthia Fraser discussed the latest federal Employment Equity Act review, key policy advocacy updates and some potential BC and local implications. CFUW prioritizes Equity & Social Justice advocacy.
CFUW & Graduate Women International in Zambia
September 11-13, 2025: CFUW delegates participated in an historic global gathering on “Building the Future: Integrating Culture, Education, & Empowerment for Sustainability” for Graduate Women International's 35th Triennial General Assembly and Conference in Lusaka, Zambia.
Book Club monthly
Sunday March 22, 2026 at 4 pm we discuss: Values: Building a Better World for All, by Mark Carney
Sunday April 12, 2026 at 4 pm we discuss: The Paris Express, by Emma Donoghue and The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride.
Book clubs are hosted at members houses. Contact us to attend.
CFUW National & BC AGMs
July 12-24, 2026: CFUW National AGM & conference - Moving Forward Together is in Montreal.
May 1-3 2026: CFUW BC Council Virtual AGM & conference Learning, Living & Growing Together.
November 22, 2025 Anita Carpenter presented about working at NASA
CFUW member Anita Carpenter delighted us with images and stories about her work experiences at the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) as an Aerospace Engineer.
Yulia Oh recipient of 2025 CFUW Nelson Scholarship
We were delighted to award our $1,000 CFUW Nelson & District scholarship to assist Yulia Oh in her post-secondary education. This is awarded annually to a 2025 LVR graduate.
Select Past Activities
2025 Presenters & Events
Jan. 25: Sandi McCreight, ageing in place. Ramamoorthi Parameswaran, Happipad Nelson.
Feb. 15: Selkirk College's Leeza Perehudoff, rural homelessness.
March 22: national policy review
March 29: Our 4th SIP Talks
April 26: Dr. Kelly Mieske on MAID
May 15: AGM social potluck
Sept: social potluck
Oct 18: Toni & Jocelyn Banyard, Malambo Grassroots Project in Zambia.
Nov 22: Anita Carpenter former NASA Aerospace Engineer.
Dec 14: Social holiday potluck
CFUW at UN CSW69
March 10-21, 2025: CFUW delegates attended UN Commission on the Status of Women: CSW69 / Beijing+30. Read CFUW's statement: Education as the Pivotal Implementation Tool of the Beijing Platform for Action
Angelia Thomson recipient of 2024 CFUW Nelson scholarship.
We were delighted to award our $1,000 CFUW Nelson & District scholarship to assist Angelia Thomson in her post-secondary education at UBC. Read more about her...
October 2024 speaker Lonnie Facchina
Our Oct. 19, 2024 guest speaker was Lonnie Facchina, Board Chair for Nelson & District Hospice Society.
January 2024 Leslie Payne & Ann Harvey on Affordable Housing
On Jan 20, 2024, we had 2 guest speakers. Leslie Payne, Nelson City Councillor and Nelson Housing Committee chair, shared ideas from a BC affordable housing conference and Nelson's affordable housing strategy updates. Ann Harvey presented on Slocan Valley Affordable Housing projects, her experience with Nelson and area affordable housing projects and BC Housing.
October 2023 presenter Dr. Sarah Breen
Our Oct. 21, 2023 guest speaker was CFUW member and Selkirk College's Dr. Sarah Breen, BC Regional Innovation Chair (RIC) in Rural Economic Development.
April 26, 2025 Dr. Kelly Mieske presented on MAID
On April 26, 2025 our guest Dr. Kelly Mieske presented to a packed room at the Senior's Center on MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying)
February 22, 2025 CFUW team raised $2940 for Coldest Night of the Year!
Thanks to everyone who joined or sponsored our CFUW Nelson & District CNOY team on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Our team of 6 walker raised $2940 in funds for Nelson CARES Society and the Ready for Home program that supports residents at Ward Street Place residents to stay warm and safely housed.
January 2025 Ageing in Place presenter Sandi McCreight
On Jan 25, 2025 we heard about local services that support successful ageing in place from guest speaker: Sandi McCreight, Castlegar Community Services' Better At Home Program. We were joined by Ramamoorthi Parameswaran, Community Outreach Ambassador for Happipad Nelson, at Community Futures Central Kootenay. More services are available via: Coreen Gries, Nelson CARES Kootenay Senior Program Manager. CFUW supports core funding for Ageing In Place resources so all Canadians can age at home and in community settings.
April 2024 presenter Stephanie Fischer
Our April 20, 2024 guest speaker Stephanie Fischer discussed the Capitol Theatre's work and community contributions, as well as her experiences as Executive Director.
February 2024 presenter Joanne Siderius
Our Feb 17, 2024 guest speaker Joanne Siderius, Senior Naturalist at Kokanee Creek Nature Centre engaged us with local wildlife issues, videos and photos.
Violence Against Women in Politics workshop 2023
In January 2023, CFUW hosted a roundtable workshop on Violence Against Women in Politics with guest presenter Brittny Anderson, BC MLA for Nelson-Creston and several other politicians. Read more...
Thanks to all who supported our popular 4th SIP Talks event at the Prestige from 4 pm - 7 pm featuring seven dynamic Kootenay women speakers, beverages and tapas to fundraise for local youth educational scholarships.
February 2025 speaker Leeza Perehudoff on rural homelessness
Feb 15, 2025 our guest speaker Leeza Perehudoff discussed Selkirk College's work on Bridging Rural Homelessness and Well Being: a sustainable and collaborative regional response.
November 2024 presenter Kim Green
Our Nov 16, 2024 guest speaker was watershed geoscientist Kim Green, a Selkirk College. Faculty Researcher.
2025-2024 CFUW national policy advocacy
In 2025, CFUW adopted nationwide advocacy policies on housing as a human right, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, stronger supports for those fleeing domestic violence, and fossil fuels phase outs. In 2024, CFUW adopted nationwide advocacy policies on ageing in place, long-term care standards, restoring and preserving peatlands, and preserving deep sea ecosystems. Across Canada, CFUW National engages in policy advocacy on gender equity, education and other National Campaigns. Local clubs vote on new policy priorities.
November 2023 presenter Andrea Wilkey
Our Nov. 18, 2023 guest speaker was Andrea Wilkey, Executive Director of Community Futures Central Kootenay.
Education
Advocacy
Camaraderie
Give the Gift of Learning
"The boost of confidence I got from having total strangers care about me and my education was amazing." ~CFUW bursary recipient
Any donation to our CFUW Scholarship & Bursary Fund is greatly appreciated. You can help another young woman three ways.
1. To support CFUW Scholarships and Bursaries for female students at Selkirk College you can
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Donate via: Give Today - Selkirk College
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In the form, just select “Other” in the Designation drop-down menu, and type "Canadian Federation of University Women - CFUW Fund" in comments.
2. To support our CFUW scholarship fund for a graduating LV Rogers Secondary School female student
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Please contact us at: nelsoncfuw@gmail.com. We're happy to communicate and accept e-transfers.
3. To be inspired, have fun, and support local youth scholarships, you can attend our March 29, 2025 SIP Talks at 4 pm at Lakeside Prestige to hear dynamic Kootenay women's stories over tapas and beverages. All event proceeds go to CFUW Scholarships & Bursaries.
About Us
As the Nelson & District Club of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW), we are one of 21 clubs involved provincially in CFUW's BC Council and one of 100+ clubs engaged across Canada. We are also an active member of Graduate Women International (GWI).
Our Club's mission is to promote education and life-long learning to women and girls, to encourage the participation of members in their communities to enhance the status of women and girls by awarding scholarships and bursaries in the community.
Our Story
Nelson CFUW was founded in 1967. There are close to 100 clubs and 6,700 members across Canada. The CFUW and our club is part of the Graduate Women International (GWI) which is in 77 countries worldwide. CFUW and GWI were founded over 100 years ago.
