MORE CFUW KELOWNA HISTORY
In 1960, the population of Kelowna was over 10,000, and a group of women university graduates decided to form a club to provide fellowship and make a contribution to the rapidly growing community. The date of the charter - November 9th, 1960.
The following Mission Statement was adopted:
Discussion groups for young mothers began (with free babysitting provided) later known as Capsule College, an 8-lecture series co-sponsored by Okanagan College's Adult Education department. Practical support for the arts also started early, with sponsorships of theatre, symphony concerts (Vancouver Symphony), a regional drama festival, initial moves to create the Kelowna and District Arts Council (KADAC) and letters of support for the National Film Board.
Community endeavours included support for the Okanagan Regional Library, and Meals on Wheels. The annual tradition began of passing around a stocking for personal contributions to a chosen community project or group. A Directory of Community Services was compiled, typed by members and published, and made available at the library. A decade later this directory became Advice Services Kelowna, and later still Kelowna Community Resources. Long before it became the norm to do so, the club's advocacy widened to include the importance of protecting the environment.
In the 1980's Project Literacy was founded by club members, with many involved personally as tutors. Other community organizations helped were the Salvation Army, Friends of Schizophrenia, the Food Bank, and the Women's Shelter. The club also started the Friends of the Library, with club members serving as its first executive. Affordable housing was addressed, with a particular focus on secondary suites. Arts support continued with donations to the Kelowna Art Gallery, KADAC and the Kelowna Museum. Environment activism also flourished. The Adopt-a-Road project was spearheaded by the club's walking group; we now clean up two streets in Kelowna twice a year.
The following Mission Statement was adopted:
- to promote the education of young women;
- to encourage the founding of an institution of higher learning
- to promote the arts
- to increase awareness of social issues in the community.
Discussion groups for young mothers began (with free babysitting provided) later known as Capsule College, an 8-lecture series co-sponsored by Okanagan College's Adult Education department. Practical support for the arts also started early, with sponsorships of theatre, symphony concerts (Vancouver Symphony), a regional drama festival, initial moves to create the Kelowna and District Arts Council (KADAC) and letters of support for the National Film Board.
Community endeavours included support for the Okanagan Regional Library, and Meals on Wheels. The annual tradition began of passing around a stocking for personal contributions to a chosen community project or group. A Directory of Community Services was compiled, typed by members and published, and made available at the library. A decade later this directory became Advice Services Kelowna, and later still Kelowna Community Resources. Long before it became the norm to do so, the club's advocacy widened to include the importance of protecting the environment.
In the 1980's Project Literacy was founded by club members, with many involved personally as tutors. Other community organizations helped were the Salvation Army, Friends of Schizophrenia, the Food Bank, and the Women's Shelter. The club also started the Friends of the Library, with club members serving as its first executive. Affordable housing was addressed, with a particular focus on secondary suites. Arts support continued with donations to the Kelowna Art Gallery, KADAC and the Kelowna Museum. Environment activism also flourished. The Adopt-a-Road project was spearheaded by the club's walking group; we now clean up two streets in Kelowna twice a year.
Shown above: the first Adopt-a-Road volunteers, members of the club walking group, early 1990's.
For more club history see:
Ahead of Our Times, Five Decades of Forward Thinking, published in 2010. ISBN 978-0-9865581-0-8 (Okanagan Regional Library) The history of the decade 2010 - 2020 was published as "Ahead of Our Times - The Story Continues". It can be obtained from the club leadership team.
For more club history see:
Ahead of Our Times, Five Decades of Forward Thinking, published in 2010. ISBN 978-0-9865581-0-8 (Okanagan Regional Library) The history of the decade 2010 - 2020 was published as "Ahead of Our Times - The Story Continues". It can be obtained from the club leadership team.