MOOSE JAW — The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is proud to announce that Sept. 14 has been officially proclaimed CFUW Day in Saskatchewan.
The proclamation was announced by Laura Ross, minister for the status of women who spoke on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan on Aug. 30.
“Various political parties have… given us a certificate of recognition for a number of years, and so we are very appreciative of that because it gives us an opportunity to raise the profile of the CFUW and the work they do in the province,” said Dalelene Yelland, the CFUW’s regional director in Saskatchewan.
The day, she explained, provides an ideal opportunity for schools, clubs, and other organizations to host local initiatives that may range from book sales to meetings held over a cup of coffee in support of women across the province.
The CFUW is one of the oldest service clubs in Canada and was founded over a century ago in 1919. At the time, Canadian women connected to the military were given the right to political franchise in 1917 and more broadly in 1918 — although still not universally.
Saskatchewan continues to honour the CFUW with a yearly proclamation, however Yelland pointed out that not all provinces do this.
“Saskatchewan is one of the provinces in Canada that does give us that certificate of recognition,” she said. “We’re very grateful, as an organization, for that.”
In Saskatchewan, the CFUW operates out of Regina, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Yorkton, although its efforts affect women across the province. In Moose Jaw, for instance, young women who have recently completed Grade 12 are eligible to apply for the New Beginnings Grant scholarship program as of 2023.
The New Beginnings Grant program is meant to provide educational opportunities for women who may otherwise face barriers to accessing further education.
Many of the organization’s efforts are intended to help raise the funds necessary to operate this program, which as of the 2023 – 2024 academic year is now applicable to students across the province.
Although no special events are planned for Moose Jaw this year, Yelland said the proclamation helps raise the CFUW’s profile and will hopefully develop further interest in the organization and its mission. Any organizations in or around Moose Jaw are invited to reach out to Yelland to discuss ways they can help honour the occasion.
The CFUW doesn’t have a club in Moose Jaw yet, but Yelland said she’s received some community interest and hopes to add a fifth centre here in the near future.
The CFUW is a self-funded, nation-wide organization comprising more than 6,500 members in 94 clubs across Canada. Since 1919, members have taken efforts to improve the status of women through the promotion of public education, human rights, social justice, and through the awarding of more than $1 million in scholarships each year.
“It is an organization that promotes education to raise the status of women, both locally and internationally,” Yelland explained. “So, our vision and mission is very much to empower women economically and socially through education.”
To learn more about the CFUW and its work in promoting the status of women visit CFUW.org.
For more information from a local contact, Dalelene Yelland can be reached by phone at 306-960-9360 or by email at [email protected].
Look for further details on the New Beginnings Grant scholarship program in the upcoming weeks.
