Fall Newsletter 2011

Connections

Food for thought (and talk)

Food and cooking have always been a natural way for women to build community and bond. The Women’s Centre has recently

launched a new series of Inter-cul-tural Cooking and Women’s Issues workshops. These unique work-shops offer women the opportunity to cook (and eat) a dish from a dif-ferent country while learning about women in that country, the culture and the different social issues. The entire workshop is facilitated

by a woman who has experienced living in that respective country. “The idea first started when we

were brainstorming on how we could connect women with other women, while learning about global issues and social justice issues relating to women,” says Caterina Gut, Education Coordinator. “We have had an amazing re-

sponse. Women really love the

workshops and have been asking for us to plan more.”So far there have been workshops

hosted by women from Mexico, Nigeria and India. Aboriginal women also gave us an

expanded view of Aboriginal issues within Canada and cooked Aborigi-nal food.“You learn a broader view of

culture,” says Gloria, one of the participants. “You actually get to learn from the women themselves. I now think differently about people from different cultures. It helps me respect them more.”“It’s been great. It’s amazing how

they tie in cooking with culture. It’s nice to see all the different cultures and people connect,” says Anna, another participant. “Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. It’s a great night out.”Some of the questions explored

in these workshops are: What do women’s lives look like? How are their lives different from ours? What can we learn from other women? “In my workshop I talked about

the differences between Mexican women and Canadian women. I also talked about ancient Mexican culture and indigenous women in Mexico. I loved doing it,” says Eugenia, who hosted the Mexican workshop.There are more countries and

workshops planned for the fall (Ukraine, Venezuela and Vietnam). Check the workshop calendar on the back page of this newsletter for more information.If you are interested in attending

or hosting an Intercultural Cook-ing and Women’s Issues work-shop, please contact Sarah at 403-264-1155 or email sarah@womenscentrecalgary.org.

2 Fall 2011

OUR VISION: WOMEN SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING WOMEN

CONNECTIONS

Calling all Casino Volunteers

We need your help! The Women’s Centre needs new, unwrapped toys for Christmas

We are also seeking gifts for women.Please drop them off at the Women’s

Centre, 646-First Ave. N.E.from now until mid-December.

Give a Child a Gift

It’s that time of year again – we need casino volunteers! Help support the Women’s Centre’s big-gest fundraiser by volunteering as a chip runner,

cashier or count room staff at the Stampede Casino on October. 4 & 5. We need

daytime and evening volunteers. Time commitment is 10 hours per shift. If you want to volunteer, phone

Filsan at 403-264-1155 or email filsan@womenscentrecalgary.org.

Upcoming Events and NewsVolunteer Appreciation

Calling all volunteers! The Women’s Centre will be hosting our annual Volunteer

Appreciation night to honour all of our amazing volunteers. This year the event will be

held on Wednesday, November 9, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the

Women’s Centre, 646-First Ave. N.E.

Newsletters now online!Our supporters can now receive our newsletter

online via monthly e-newsletters. To register for these email updates, please call

403-264-1155 or go to our new website at womenscentrecalgary.org and click on ‘Join Us’

at the top or “Read our Newsletter’ launching Sep. 15 on the bottom left side on the main homepage.

The Women’s Centre would like to welcome Aimar Bracho (pictured left) who is our new Basic Needs

Coordinator; she will be joined by Carolina Dal-gleish who is leaving the Volunteer Coordinator

position and moving into the co-position of Basic Needs Coordinator.

We would also like to welcome Vivian Gu (pictured right) as our new Administrative Assistant. She

will be replacing Filsan Abdi, who is moving into the position of Volunteer Coordinator.

We would like to say “safe travels” to Caterina Gut who will be taking a five-month leave to travel South America. Sarah Winstanley will be covering as the

Education Coordinator.

Comings and Goings

Fall 2011 3CONNECTIONS

OUR MISSION: EVERY WOMAN’S PLACE FOR SUPPORT, CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY

Women’s Centre launches new website

The Women’s Centre of Calgary is launching a new website in order to engage supporters, build community and provide a better overview of the Centre’s efforts to support women in Calgary. “We are so excited to

have our supporters use our revamped website this fall. The new website will have important timely information and will be a community platform for our volunteers, supporters and women who use the Women’s Centre,” says Simona Siad, Communi-

cations Coordinator. The new site has a wide

variety of inter-active fea-tures and web 2.0 social media capabilities that will allow users to get assis-tance, receive critical and timely information, while continuing to build com-munity and connections with women in Calgary. The official launch

date is September 15, 2011. The new website, womenscentrecalgary.org, will feature easily accessible information for those interested in getting assistance, connecting

with others and working for change.New tools include a blog

for weekly stories and posts, a video player, easy to click volunteer and donate buttons, an interactive workshop and events calendar and links to Women’s Centre social media pages on Face-book, Youtube and Flickr.

PLEASE NOTE:

We will now be sending out the majority of our newsletters online through monthly e-newsletters. If

you would like to continue receiving the print edition please contact Vivian at 403-264-1155 or send us a note in the mail. SIGN UP TODAY!

To begin receiving the monthly e-newsletter, please register by call-ing Simona at 403-264-1155, emailing simona@womenscentrecalgary.org or by going to our new website (after Sep.15) and clicking on ‘Join Us’ or “Read our Newsletter’ on the main homepage.

On Sept 15 join us online at

We have a NEWwebsite!

womenscentrecalgary.orgNew tools include a blog for weekly stories and posts, a video player, easy to click volunteer and donate buttons, an interactive workshop and events calendar and links to Women’s Centre social media pages on Facebook, Youtube and Flickr.

4Fall 2011

Women’s Centre of Calgary, 646 First Ave. NE, Calgary, AB T2E 0B6 Ph: 403-264-1155 E-mail: info@womenscentrecalgary.org

Fax: 403-264-1203 Web: www.womenscentrecalgary.org (after Sep.15)

CONNECTIONS

Upcoming WorkshopsSEPTEMBER

Self Defence Pt. 1-3:September 15, 22, 29 Thurs, 6-8pm (Must attend all three)Yoga Flow:September 19, 26, Mon, 2-3pmIntroductory Bicycle Mechanics:September 19, Mon, 6-8pmCanadian Family Law- Getting Divorced:September 27, Tues, 6-8pm

NOVEMBEROCTOBERYoga Flow:October 3, 17, 24, Mon, 2-3pmPhotography Club:October 3, 17, Mon, 6-7:30pmYoga Basics:October 6, 13, 20, 27, Thurs, 6:30-8pmHealthy Conflict:October 17, Mon, 6-8pmImprove your Public Speaking!:October 24, Mon, 6-8pm

MS Word Basics:November 2, Wed, 6:30-8pmYoga Basics:November 3, 10, Thurs, 6:30-8pmYoga Flow:November 7, 14, 21, 28, Mon, 2-3pmPhotography Club:November 7, 21, Mon, 6-7:30pmImprove your Public Speaking!:November 14, 28, Mon, 6-8pmBasic Spanish for Your Vacation:November 15, 22, 29, Tues, 6:30-8pmMS Word Intermediate:November 16, Wed, 6:30-8pmIntercultural Cooking and Women’s Issues – Ukraine:November 17, Thurs, 6-8pmIntercultural Cooking and Women’s Issues – Venezuela:November 24, Thurs, 6-8pmBaking Winter Cookies:November 30, Wed, 6-8pmMS Word Advanced:November 30, Wed, 6:30-8pm

DecemberIntercultural Cooking and Women’s Issues – Vietnam:December 1, Thurs, 6-8pmYoga Flow:December 5, Mon, 2-3pmCultural Competence: December 5, Mon, 6-8pmBasic Spanish for Your Vacation:December 6, Tues, 6:30-8pm

Legal Clinic Family Law:Every Tues, 6:30-8:30pmLegal Clinic Non-Family Law: Every other Thurs 6:30-8:30pm

Practise English:Every Tues, 10am-noon

Ongoing

All workshops are free! To register call 403-264-1155