Category Archives: Club Projects

Brantford news, Club Projects, Issues and Advocacy, What's new

CFUW Brantford presents Nova Vita with a donation of $3000.00

Thanks to the generosity of our members, on December 6th, CFUW Brantford presented Nova Vita with a donation of $3,000.00 for their 2023 Hope for the Holidays campaign

Serving Brantford and the County of Brant for over 40 years, Nova Vita provides trauma-informed emergency shelter, outreach sup- port, and counselling services to individuals and families experienc- ing abuse, as well as counselling for individuals who have caused harm in their relationships. Throughout these four decades, CFUW Brantford has supported Nova Vita with sponsorships, volunteering, and initiatives such as Basketeers, International Women’s Day events, and annual events.

Hope for the Holidays was introduced in December 2020 in re- sponse to the Pandemic and the alarming escalation of domestic violence.
To date, over the four Hope for the Holiday campaigns from 2020 to date, we have raised $9,235.00 to help Nova Vita make a difference for women and families who are in Nova Vita’s care during the Holiday season.

Here are a couple of comments from the women who were in the shelter last year after receiving our donation:

“Wow, the holiday gifts and gift cards are incredibly helpful at such a stressful time of year. Thank you….we are moved by your kindness. I don’t know how to express it well enough.”

“The love care and support we received …was over the moon. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us because of every one we have met here. Thank you!”

“My Kids thought they were at a “kid’s hotel” where they played and learned with new “teachers.”

“…I safe and valued. Food was fantastic too.”

CFUW members, Lin F, Maria T, Janet K, Nova Vita’s Anne Ruddell, Jill Ballantyne and Naomi Kral
Brantford news, Club Projects

The Mentorship Directory: a blast from the past

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Way back in 1989, CFUW Brantford had the radical idea of publishing a directory of local women who worked in a variety of careers and professions. These women agreed to be featured in a thumbnail article in the directory, which was distributed to schools and libraries throughout the county. They also agreed to answer students’ questions about their career paths. This was long before google was a thing, but we were mentoring women to think beyond the stereotypes.

Here’s a selection of profiles from that directory.

Brantford news, Club Projects

Significant Lives: Profiles of Brant County Women

In 1998, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CFUW Brantford, we researched, wrote and published a book on the history of women in Brant County, called Significant Lives: Profiles of Brant County Women. (2000 copies sold). The Library and some Executive have copies if you would like to read this lovely book.

Following the publication, some of us lobbied to have the names of these women used as street names in the city.  With the help of Councillor Marguerite Ceschi-Smith, we now have  almost 20 streets named for the women.

Brantford news, Club Projects, Issues and Advocacy

Nova Vita’s Hope for the Holidays

CFUW Brantford members donated $1,850 to Nova Vita on December 7th, 2022.  The funds were allocated to the Hope for the Holidays initiative that supports women and children  in the shelter at Nova Vita as they navigated their way through the holiday season.
Anne Ruddell, Community Development Manager, advised us that tax receipts for 2022 donations will be sent out in the first eight weeks of 2023.
The Hope for the Holidays Committee, Bev Golden, Janet Kempster, Lin Fines and Maria Timmons would like to thank our members for their generosity.

The photo of CFUW Brantford presenting the donation to Nova Vita: from left to right:  Janet Kempster, Anne Ruddell, Nova Vita Community Development Manager, Maria Timmons and Bev Golden.