All posts by MJS

Brian Wood knows telephones! Our Speaker at the April 23 General Meeting

Brian Wood knows telephones! After more than 36 years as curator of the Bell Homestead Historic Site, there is not much that
he doesn’t know about the Alexander Graham Bell invention and its importance to the world. He has shepherded restoration of
the Bell Homestead to its original 1981 state, and has raised the profile of the site so that it is one of Canada’s important
museums, and a source of pride for residents of Brantford and Brant County. Brian will show and tell all about the
development of telephones from the very early versions to today’s advanced cell phones. Please join us for this fascinating
presentation.

Looking for Jane: Thursday Night Book Club

The Thursday night book club read ” Looking for Jane” by Canadian first time author Heather Marshall. The book is based on the real Jane Collective, an underground network of courageous individuals who provided safe abortions in the late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s in Canada. Marshall says it is really a book about motherhood.-” a story that has a solid foundation in the historical facts surrounding underground abortion networks, the post war era maternity homes system and forced adoption mandate in Canada. The story is told through the eyes of three fictional women whose experiences come from 2017,1971 and 1980.

This book puts a very personal and sometimes very emotional face on the relationships between mothers and daughters, motherhood itself and the struggle for “the right to choose.” It brings the advocacy of so many women in events such as the 1970 Abortion Caravan, the clinic raids and the support for Dr. Morgentaler to life. The book group found it well-written, informative and emotional. The discussion was thoughtful. Given the situation in the USA today it is also very topical. This is a piece of Canadiana worth remembering. As usually happens in our group the discussion broadened into other0 issues of the day!

New Venue for monthly meetings

CFUW Brantford is on the move! Due to security issues at Thorpe’s Funeral Home, our General Meetings are moving to McCleister Funeral Home at 495 Park Road North. (Park Road North is the extension of West Street). The March 26 meeting will be held at McCleister’s. (Hybrid meetings will continue).

Please park at the back of building, enter, and walk past the office on the left to a small hallway. Follow the hallway to the meeting room.

Meetings will start at 7:00 pm sharp. We are asked to bring a food item for the Food Bank to each meeting.
Many thanks to Thorpe’s Funeral Home for their past support and to McCleister Funeral Home staff who have welcomed us.