The Latest News For You From The Women's Centre

CONNECTIONS

SEPTEMBER 2023

A Love Letter to Mohkinstsis

Our New Community Zine

A Love Letter to Mohkinstsis is a community publication that showcases the stories and artwork of Women’s Centre community members, speaking to their hopes and dreams for a collective and just future. Centering the voices of women and gender-diverse people, this zine honours embodied knowledge as generative, constructive, and necessary for strengthening a greater sense of belonging and solidarity. From here, we can begin to challenge systems of injustice and inequality.

A Love Letter to Mohkinstsis answers the questions: “How can we deepen our commitment to building communities of care?” and “What does it mean to belong somewhere?”

We would like to invite women and gender-diverse people to channel their creativity and join us to contribute to the zine. Whether this might be digital art, photography, poetry, prose, essays, or more, all creative mediums are welcome!

We will host two workshops on September 19 and October 4, with art supplies and food provided for participants and a lively discussion about community building as a tool of change.

The deadline for external submissions for the zine will be October 13. Please submit your poetry, prose, artwork, etc., to Talynn@womenscentrecalgary.org by this time.

UPDATES IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY

Social Issues Readings

It's Equal Pay Day. The gender pay gap has hardly budged in 20 years. What gives?

Calgary city council to hold special meeting to address housing crisis

Opinion | Wildfires indicate dire need for change

We use our social issues readings section to share articles on current events and analysis on a variety of topics.

NEW ON THE BLOG: Wildfires and Gender

The Northwest Territories evacuation order for Yellowknife and British Columbia’s declared provincewide state of emergency are the latest additions to Canada’s record-breaking reports on wildfire devastation.

What does this mean for women and gender-diverse people? How does climate change relate to gender equity? Read more on the blog.

Now Offering Criminal Legal Advice

The Women's Centre is now offering criminal legal advice with our free legal advice clinics.

Areas of advice include:

- have been charged with an offence

- police disclosures / personal disclosures

- have placed charges against another party

- regretful complaint

- self-representation

- consequences and responsibilities in a criminal offence

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Meaghan.

Summer Wrap and Open Mic Evening

Get ready to end the summer in a good way with food and lively performances. Come on out for the food and stay for the open mic entertainment on Thursday, September 21, from 2 P.M. - 5 P.M.

There will be a few surprises, so come on out and celebrate with us!

To RSVP, email Nicole@womenscentrecalgary.org with your name and phone number

Orange Shirt Day

September 30

On Orange Shirt Day and every day, we acknowledge the incredible strengths and resiliency of Indigenous peoples and children across Canada. This day also serves as a powerful reminder for reflection on the truths and the continued intergenerational impacts of Residential Schools. To learn more about Orange Shirt Day, please visit OrangeShirtDay.org.

Please join us on Friday, September 29 from 10 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and memorialize the children lost to the residential school system.

We invite you to participate in reflective learning toward reconciliation and connect with cultural practices.

To RSVP, email Nicole@womenscentrecalgary.org with your name and phone number

Girls' Afterschool Program Is Back!

The Women’s Centre of Calgary offers FREE afterschool programs for grades 5 to 9. The Girls Programs provides girls, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary children and youth a safe space to share their knowledge of leadership, activism, and community building.

We facilitate various activities that include crafts, discussions, and, most importantly, youth-led sessions where youth practice their leadership skills. Participants consistently tell us that our programs are fun and help them feel more confident and connected.

The weekly afterschool programs will be taking place at the Women's Centre (39 4 St NE).

Girl Power (grades 5-6) Wednesdays 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. (starts October 4, 2023)

Girl Force (grades 7-9) Thursdays 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. (starts October 5, 2023)

The programs are free, and the Women's Centre will provide light snacks. Bus tickets will be available for participants to attend the program as needed. Register through our website or email youth@womenscentrecalgary.org

SEPTEMBER WORKSHOPS SPOTLIGHT

September Workshops

For a full list of upcoming and ongoing workshops and to register, view our calendar here.

Unleashing Your Creativity | Wednesday, September 20, 5 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.

Come explore and unleash your creativity as we look into different forms of writing. Join us for an 8-week creative writing workshop with musician, singer, and writer Wendy Walker.

Creative Woman Power Workshop - Crochet Granny Squares with Mona | Monday, September 18, 5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

Join our monthly Creative Woman Power workshop, a space to learn, grow and build community. These workshops are run and facilitated by peers and all supplies are provided at no cost to women.

Women's Adventure Club (Ages 50+) | Wednesday, September 30, 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.

Are you a mature woman and looking to build community? Then look no further. The Women's Adventure Club is a peer-focused community social group for mature women-identifying folks to share, socialize, participate in activities and build community in a supportive social environment. Join us for an evening of crocheting and conversation.

These free workshops are open to all women-identifying folks.

To register for any of these workshops or get more information, email Nicole@womenscentrecalgary.org (including your name and phone number) or call (403) 264-1155

OPERATING HOURS

The Women's Centre will be open 9:30 A.M. - 7:30 P.M., Monday - Thursday, and Friday 9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Please note that the Centre will be closed to the public from September 25 - 29 for program planning and will reopen October 3

VOLUNTEER

DONATE

CALENDAR

Women's Centre of Calgary www.womenscentrecalgary.org