SI of North and West Vancouver
Meeting Info
Date: 2nd Wednesday of each month (except July and August)
Time: 6:30 pm on Zoom (during COVID-19 restrictions)
7:00 pm in person; John Braithwaite Community Centre, North Vancouver
(post COVID restrictions)
Location: Please phone 604-980-0108.
Email: sinorthandwestvancouver@soroptimist.net
Website: www.soroptimistnvwv.org
S.I. North Vancouver and S.I. West Vancouver merged in 1950 to charter a new club, SI of North & West Vancouver. Our singular aim is to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Whether engaged in business, a profession, or household management, our members are like-minded women who care about others. We enjoy coming together in an atmosphere of fun and friendship to help women and girls in our community and beyond. During our 70+ years as a club we have established close relationships with local service providers and community agencies, giving us an increased awareness of community needs. Active involvement over the years in community projects, awards programs, fundraising events and hands-on work has enabled us to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit North Shore residents.
We can boast a number of members who have made extra-special contributions over the years:
Janneke Lewis, a family law lawyer and mediator, Janneke has attended several international conferences on human trafficking. In April 2005, she presented a workshop on prosecuting child trafficking at a UN conference in Bangkok and participated in the consultative NGO group for the UN Vienna Forum held in February 2008. She talks publicly to interested groups on human trafficking to raise awareness on this issue. Janneke was also Governor of Soroptimist Western Canada Region.
Alma Reynolds was instrumental in successfully lobbying the District of West Vancouver Council to improve accessibility throughout the city by installing building ramps and recessed curbs on street corners.
Club members are especially grateful for the generosity of Ruth Ditto and Bonnie McLaren, two members who bequeathed money to our club through their estates. This money has been used to benefit hundreds of community members in need. After Bonnie’s passing the McLaren family established the Bonnie J. McLaren Memorial Fund through the West Vancouver Foundation, enabling our club to apply for funding for a number of projects.
Three members of our club and a member from S.I. Victoria West Shore initiated the idea of a Gender Equality Conference. After two successful conferences in 2017 and 2019, Western Canada Region conference delegates voted unanimously to designate this conference as an annual Region event.
Over the years our club has partnered with other organizations to provide housing. We partnered with the Rotary Club of West Vancouver and the Royal Canadian Legion of West Vancouver to raise funding for the construction of Capilano Towers, a 72 unit low cost housing development on Esquimalt Avenue in West Vancouver. We also partnered with Lookout Society to raise funds for homeless and at risk adults and youth.
SOROPTIMIST SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
Each year, our club participates in both Federation signature Dream programs:
Live Your Dream is an education and training bursary awarded annually to several local head of household women seeking to improve their economic status. We actively support and mentor each of the award winners for several years through the Beyond the Cash award.
Dream It Be It is a career and skills development program hosted annually by our club for high school aged girls. Subject matter experts are brought in to facilitate this one day session on timely topics such as social media smarts, self-esteem, study skills, problem solving, etc.
BC GOVERNMENT GAMING AWARDS
Throughout the years our long standing affiliation with the BC Lottery Corporation, Planet Bingo, and more recently the BC Community Gaming Grant Program, enabled us to contribute approximately $500,000 to local charities in North & West Vancouver.
OUR CLUB PROJECTS
Each year our club carries out a number of projects, many in cooperation with local community service providers and organizations. Recent projects include:
Family Camp - In 2018 we hosted and sponsored a Family Camp for local families who lack the financial resources to send their children to camp. Our intent was for the mothers and their children to spend quality time together in an atmosphere of celebration and fun. They participated in canoeing, archery, fort building, orienteering, and other outdoor games. We have held two highly successful family camps, and plan to continue once COVID restrictions have been lifted.
Soroptimist Dream Bags – Members contribute lightly used purses full of goodies that are distributed to clients of local charities. The bags are filled with special gifts such as lotions, perfume, wallets, cosmetics and gift cards.
Gift Bags for Isolated Seniors – In 2020 we received funding from the United Way to help support isolated senior women on the North Shore. We made up gift bags with grocery cards, puzzles, candies, candles etc. Save On Foods donated grocery gift certificates as well. We plan to continue this project on our own in the future.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Our club has been involved in a number of international projects. They include the following which have occurred since 2000:
Kenya – one of our members lived and volunteered in a remote Kenyan village for 6 months of each year, and introduced us to SI Kakamega in Kenya. As a result our club contributed to village life through the purchase of goats to supply milk, and sanitary napkins to enable the local girls to attend school regularly. We also sold jewelry that was designed by one of the villagers.
India – one member’s sister who lived in India informed us of projects needing financial support. As a result we purchased sewing machines for the Women in Action program and school supplies for the Kids First program in Pune, India.
Mexico – the niece of one of our members requested financial assistance for rebuilding efforts in Mexico due to the devastating 2017 Earthquake.
Sierra Leone - our club contributed financially to Giselle Portenier’s documentary about the practice of female genital mutilation. Our intent was to help increase awareness and promote elimination of FGM as a violation of human rights.
ShelterBox International – our club donated funds to assist the purchase of emergency shelters for families across the globe left homeless due to natural disasters.
FUNDRAISERS
Treasure Chest of Hope and Opportunity - For many years our club offered the very popular Treasure Chest of Hope and Opportunity. The highlight of this event was the sale of keys to a treasure chest laden with jewelry donated by our club member and jewelry store owner Jean Violette. This dinner dance also featured live and silent auctions. Over the years this fundraiser generated over $250,000 which helped to support our club projects and donations to local charities.
More recently our club has hosted other fundraisers:
Wreath making - One of our longstanding and most popular fundraisers, this three night event provides our club members with the opportunity to come together and socialize with one another while decorating Christmas wreaths to sell to family and friends. During COVID restrictions in 2020 we continued by decorating wreaths at home on our own.
Lobster Dinner - Another popular fundraiser is the Lobster Dinner fundraiser, held at the local Yacht Club in September each year – a fun filled evening of auctions, raffles and Maritime lobsters, in a setting that overlooks spectacular ocean views.
Valentine Online Auction - In view of 2021 COVID restrictions, our club is holding an online auction fundraiser to sell donated items such as wine, artwork and household items.
AWARDS
The awards listed below are presented at our annual Awards Dinner.
Bonnie J. McLaren Award
This financial award is presented to young women between the ages of 14 and 17 who have distinguished themselves as active volunteers in their school or in the North Shore community.
Live Your Dream: Education and Training Award for Women
The Live Your Dream Award is presented annually to several women who wish to improve life for themselves and for their family. Applicants must be the sole breadwinners for their family, and must be enrolled in (or registered for) further training.
Ruby Award
This award recognizes a local woman from the community who has improved the lives of women and girls through their professional or personal activities. One former recipient is singer songwriter Sarah McLachlan, who founded the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. The school offers free music lessons each year to more than 1,000 aspiring musicians. Senator Mobina Jaffer also received this award. Senator Jaffer is BC’s representative and the first Muslim person appointed to the Canadian Senate.