Welcome to the website of CFUW Kelowna
THE POWER OF WOMEN WORKING TOGETHER
ADVOCACYCFUW addresses local, national and international social justice issues. We advocate for appropriate social policy regarding women's rights and equality. |
COMMUNITYWe support our local community by giving time, expertise and money to programs for women and girls, youth and seniors and to cultural, sports and environmental events. |
EDUCATIONWe provide scholarships and bursaries annually to local girls and women graduating from High Schools, Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan. Last year these totalled $23,000. |
A club member found the following anecdote when reading the book 100 Canadian Heroines: Famous and Forgotten Faces, by Merna Forster. Writing about Alice Wilson (1881-1964) the author says, “Canada’s first female geologist blazed a path into a world where women weren’t welcome.” In order to get an advanced degree in geology, Alice asked for permission to apply for a $1000 scholarship from the Canadian Federation of University Women. When she won the scholarship the Geological Survey of Canada found many reasons why she could not accept. “A desperate Alice appealed to the CFUW and its members began lobbying for her. The Survey gave in." She went on to get her PhD and returned to the Survey where she was unable to advance for seven years and management refused to publish a report on her dissertation. But in 1935 the federal government made her a Member of the Order of the British Empire. She only became a full geologist at the Survey after World War II but then had to accept retirement at age 65. She still continued to publish and travel, teaching other people about geology. The Royal Society of Canada offers a scholarship each year for her accomplishments: The Alice Wilson award, for the first woman elected to the society.
CFUW awards have been instrumental in changing the future for many such trailblazing women, and continue to do so today.
CFUW awards have been instrumental in changing the future for many such trailblazing women, and continue to do so today.