The members of the Canadian Federation of University Women Parksville Qualicum (CFUW PQ) acknowledge with respect the ancestral, traditional Aboriginal territories of the Coast Salish on whose territory we live, meet, and learn.
CFUW PQ is a not-for-profit, non partisan organisation, made up of women residing in the Oceanside area who are committed to and actively promote equality, education and opportunities for children, girls, and women – locally, nationally, and internationally.
Initiated in 1981, we focus on advocacy, learning, and friendship through monthly meetings, special events, committees, interest groups, and book clubs. Our annual book sale fundraiser began in 1984 and is held in October each year. Funds raised go toward projects and scholarships for local and international girls and women.
CFUW PQ is an active member of CFUW National, along with more than 100 local clubs and over 8,000 members advocating for girls and women. Through the CFUW National founded in 1919, we maintain active liaison with the Federal Government of Canada and the United Nations.
With our local partners, we advocate for issues such as poverty reduction, and access to affordable early childhood education. We have a long history of opposing violence against women. With our members, we celebrate successes, work to meet challenges, and maintain a spirit of friendship, collegiality and enjoyment.
CFUW PQ Vision:
Women and girls are educated and empowered to make transformative change in the world
CFUW PQ Mission:
Promote and enable women’s fellowship, continuous learning and empowerment to achieve educational and economic equality and social justice
Launch for Water Confidential: Witnessing Justice Denied
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you may have seen these posters starting to appear around town...it's the time of year to start applying for scholarships and bursaries for the school year 2024-25.
CFUW PQ has a number of valuable scholarships and bursaries available for qualified candidates.
Please share this information with any local girls (or their families) graduating from our SD69 high school programmes this year who are planning to go on to further education; with those from the area already in University or further education; or with local women planning to return to higher education.
Please check our website for details, and application forms. cfuwpq.ca/what-we-do/scholarships/
The deadline for all applications is COB May 31 2024.
Did you know...CFUW PQ raises funds through a HUGE booksale annually? Books are donated by members of our local community; and are collected, sorted and sold by our club volunteers at A Gigantic Book Sale in late September-early October.
The funds go towards scholarships and bursaries for local girls and women; to help with education for women and girls overseas; and to carry out outreach and education in our local community.
We Need Your Books!
This year the sale will once again be at the Arrowsmith Hall at the Coombs Fairground site. For information on specific dates and times, or what kind of books we are looking for, please contact our booksale team at booksale@cfuwpq.ca , or visit our website
cfuwpq.ca/whats-happening/book-sale/ cfuwpq.ca/donate/book-donations/
Please check out our book-box, and drop off your gently used books with us - we really appreciate it. The book-box is located near the entrance to Save-On-Foods at Wembley Mall - you can't miss it
looking for inspiration for an Easter gift for a youngster in your life - look no more - April 02 is International Children's Book Day 📖
very impactful memoir written by one of our own members - please share widely
**March is Women’s History Month - let's honour some more impactful Canadian Women**
Justice Bertha Wilson (1923–2007)
First woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. Born into a working-class family in Scotland, Bertha Wilson trained in law in Canada. When appointed to the high court in 1982, she already had a track record as a justice with the Ontario Court of Appeal, where she was known for her humane decisions in areas such as human rights and the division of matrimonial property. During her nine years on the Supreme Court, she helped her male colleagues to understand that seemingly neutral laws often operated to the disadvantage of women and minorities - thank you Justice Wilson!
**March is Women’s History Month**
Ga’axstal’as, Jane Constance Cook (1870–1951)
Kwakwaka’wakw leader, cultural mediator, and activist. Born on Vancouver Island, Ga’axstal’as, Jane Constance Cook was the daughter of a Kwakwaka'wakw noblewoman and a white fur trader. Raised by a missionary couple, she had strong literacy skills and developed a good understanding of both cultures and legal systems. As the grip of colonialism tightened around West Coast nations, Cook lobbied for First Nations to retain rights of access to land and resources. She testified at the McKenna-McBride Royal Commission of 1914 and was the only woman on the executive of the Allied Indian Tribes of British Columbia in 1922. A fierce advocate for women and children, she was also a midwife and healer and raised sixteen children.