CONNECTIONS NOVEMBER 2020
WEEK LONG CELEBRATION FOR
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
Have you volunteered at the Women’s Centre in some way this past year?

Please come visit the Centre from Monday, November 2 - Thursday, November 5 for our volunteer appreciation event.

Visit the Women's Centre to pick up your volunteer appreciation gifts, have a cupcake and participate in some community building activities.

Available event dates and times:
Monday, November 2, 10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
Tuesday, November 3, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M.
Wednesday, November 4 & Thursday, November 5, 6:15 - 7:15 P.M.

Call us at 403-264-1155 to book your visit.
(We ask that you book a time in order to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols.)

We cannot wait to see you!
UPDATES IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY
Current WC Volunteer Opportunities

For details or to apply to any of our volunteer positions please email our Basic Needs Coordinator, Allison, or visit our website.

Peer Support
Peer support is the core service of the Centre and provided by volunteers who are supported by the Women's Centre staff. This is non-judgmental support with whatever women are looking for, and could include providing referrals, information, or a listening ear.

Community Connector
The pandemic has affected our ability to gather, so the Women’s Centre is trying to find new ways to build community! As a community connector, you will play a key role in welcoming women into the centre and helping them feel comfortable in the space.

Family Law Volunteer Lawyers
The Women’s Centre Legal Advice Clinic offers one-time free
30 minutes of legal advice from volunteer lawyers to women in a safe, supportive and
confidential space.
Family Violence Prevention Month

November is the time to wear purple in support of Family Violence Prevention Month.

Help someone you know who is affected by family violence by learning #WhereToTurn:
Gems for Gems

Domestic abuse is a unifying and debilitating cause.

Gems for Gems believes ending the cycle of domestic abuse must also be a unified effort and as such, they have created IGNITE!

They believe every action, every story and every survivor matter and that we all can be part of creating the end to this epidemic together.

They are thrilled to have teamed up with a team of Celebrity Ambassadors and organizations to show how unified action creates change.

This is a free, online event held on Thursday, November 5 from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. Visit their event link for more details and to register.
Live Your Dream Cash Awards for Women

Live Your Dream Awards are for women who are the sole support for their families. The top award is $4,000 with a secondary award of $3,000 and two additional awards of $2,000 each. The deadline for the Live Your Dream Award is November 15.
To qualify for the Live Your Dream Award, a woman must:

  • show financial need
  • be supporting at least one dependant (e.g. children, spouse/partner, parents, siblings, nieces or nephews)
  • be currently attending or enrolled in a degree, skills training, or upgrading program.

The Live Your Dream award may be used for anything that will help the recipient with the costs of her education - for example, tuition, books, transportation, living expenses, and child care.

Application forms and details are available on the Soroptimist website.
Soul of the Next Economy Forum 

Monday November 16th - Friday November 20th, from 8:30 AM -12:00 PM daily
Event Location: Online
Registration: Purchase tickets here.
The Soul of the Next Economy Forum is where businesses, non-profits, government, and educational institutions converge to change the way we do business and impact society. This is your opportunity to engage with thought leaders who are creating innovative and sustainable solutions to social and environmental issues.
Support the Toy Room as a Donor
The Women’s Centre Holiday Toy Room helps women and families through a gift program, where women are able to choose a holiday gift for their children, as well as a gift for themselves.

Gift donations can be made to our Holiday Toy Room beginning November 1, 2020. We accept new, unwrapped gift donations for children ages 0 – 17. We also accept new, unwrapped gift donations for women to use as a part of our Women’s Gifts program. For both children’s gifts and women’s gifts, we recommend selecting gifts in the $25 – $35 price range.

New this year, the Women’s Centre has partnered with locally owned and operated Castle Toys to facilitate online gift donations for the Centre. We've also partnered with Best Buy Canada who are running a toy drive in their stores.

For full details on how to donate, visit the Women's Centre website.
Ideas for Women's Gifts
Our Toy Room program is unique in many ways, but of particular note is that we offer women the opportunity to select a gift for themselves, regardless of whether they are also selecting gifts for children.

In 2019, we provided gifts for almost 1400 women, and we expect that number to be the same, if not higher, this year. This program would not be possible without the support and generosity of our donors. We ask that you please consider donating items in the $25-$35 range to supply women's gifts for our toy room. Some examples of gift ideas include:

  • Small kitchen appliances/accessories
  • Bath accessories (towels, loofahs)
  • Perfume, body wash, lotion
  • Adult colouring books
  • Tea or coffee packs
  • Fuzzy throw blankets
  • Pajamas
  • Sweaters
  • Purses

If you have any questions, please contact Diane, diane@womenscentrecalgary.org, or visit our website for details.
Volunteer for the Toy Room
Join our volunteer team to help us keep our Holiday Toy Room running smoothly. We have options for individual volunteers, or groups.

Volunteer as an individual
Job duties include answering phones, booking toy room appointments for women, and connecting with women to provide them with information about holiday resources and support.

Sponsor a Toy Room shift and Volunteer as a Group
The Women’s Centre also is happy to share sponsorship and group volunteering opportunities with our community and corporate partners.

To ensure the safety of women and volunteers, we have implemented social distancing measures, and cleaning and sanitizing protocols per the recommendations of Alberta Health Services. We have also set up plexiglass barriers and directional markers.

For details on the volunteer time commitment and sponsorship amounts contact Diane by email diane@womenscentrecalgary.org, or phone 403-264-1155
Together Again Meet Ups
The Together Again meet-ups will happen throughout November every Thursday from 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. in person at the Women’s Centre. Drop-ins welcome. Coffee, tea & snacks provided.

November events scheduled are:

  • November 5 Show & Share
  • November 12 Knitting & Conversation
  • November 19 Tea & Bannock
  • November 26 Charades & Party Games

Email Sarah, sarah@womenscentrecalgary.org, talk to a volunteer while at the Centre, or sign up through our online events calendar.
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Community Collage Project
We are launching a community collage project on November 10 with the support of one of our Artists in Residence, Julia Rose Sutherland! Women in the Centre and online will have a chance to contribute to the piece.

Stay tuned for more details! The project will run until the end of the month.
NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS
November Workshops
For a full list of upcoming October workshops and to register, view our calendar here.
Learn about women’s poverty in Calgary and Alberta, and the various ways in which poverty shows up at the Women’s Centre. Discover how the Women’s Centre addresses poverty through its unique peer model and three strategic areas: get assistance, connect with others and work for change.
Learn about what constitutes violence against women, systemic forces that make some women more at risk of experiencing violence, and the ways we can address violence and offer help to women who are experiencing it.
This workshop is open to anyone interested in improving their facilitation skills. Learn how to plan your own workshop and gain effective facilitation tools and techniques for creating an engaging workshop for participants.

Join us for a fall walk outside and socially distanced through Bridgeland-Riverside to explore women’s connection to nature. This will be a shorter version of our regular feminist walks and will include lots of opportunities for connecting with your fellow walkers. All ages and genders welcome!

Join us, with Artist in Residence Penny Gunderson, for Mending Circle Workshops. Come for just one or both! We will be working on slow stitching fabric patches and then attaching them to a simple cotton tote bag that you can take home. All materials and bags will be supplied. 
SERVICES UPDATE
Hours of Operation
The Centre is now open extended hours by appointment.

Monday:
9:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Tuesday - Thursday:
9:30 A.M. - 8:30 P.M.

Please call us at 403-264-1155.
Tax Appointments
Tax clinics take place on Wednesdays from 5:00 - 8:30 P.M. by appointment. Please call us to book and note that space for appointments is limited. Our volunteers will also only have capacity for two filing years per appointment, so please book a separate appointment if you have more than two years of filing.
I.D. Clinic
We are hosting an I.D Clinic on Wednesday, November 18, from 1:30 - 2:00 P.M. Please note that these clinics only have five spaces each and are drop-in only.
Need Help Finding Employment?

The Women's Centre is hosting a drop in employment clinic throughout November to assist women with a variety of skill-building to help their job search.

We can help with:
  • Resume writing and feedback
  • Interview practice and tips
  • Job searching and resources
  • Computer support

Interested? Drop in Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. or contact Allison by email or phone 403-264-1155.
Women's Centre of Calgary www.womenscentrecalgary.org