Past Programs for 2024-25
Monday, September 16, 2024
– Have Your Cake . . . and Have Your Say
A creative and interesting open discussion to find out what is important to each of us and for our CFUW West Vancouver Club (with a cuppa tea and a piece of cake of course).
Monday October 21, 2024
– Jamshed Colah, Senior Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and friend
A behind the scenes approach to the upcoming programs and how the VSO reaches new audiences. We’ll also hear some of the background of the VSO – why, when and how it all started
Monday November 18, 2024
– Valerie Jerome, author of RACES: The Trials and Triumphs of Canada’s Fastest Family
Valerie is an Olympian in her own right and sister of Harry Jerome, a bronze medalist at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Valerie is an educator and political activist raised in North Vancouver who will speak about some of those childhood experiences and their influence on her life.
Monday December 9, 2024
– Christmas Time Social
A time of fun, games and music creatively arranged by our Social Committee to not only help us to celebrate the Season but to take the opportunity to share with those less fortunate and to raise funds for a worthy Community Organization.
Monday January 20, 2025
– Vancouver Fraser Port Authority – ECHO Program
Have you ever had the unique experience of observing southern resident killer whales in our coastal waters and then wondered what is being done to protect them? Join us to hear from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ECHO ((Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation) Program Manager Melanie Knight who will share the origins, intent, and successes of this program which began in 2014.
Today the program coordinates one of the world’s largest and most successful voluntary efforts to reduce the impacts of underwater noise on at-risk whales –– in close collaboration with advisors from across government, the marine transportation industry, Indigenous communities, and environmental groups. Join us to learn more about this important program.
TUESDAY February 18, 2025
– Discussion on Current Issues
We plan to continue our discussion of issues that are important to you, either coming from our September conversations or currently happening in the Community around us. It will be another opportunity for important dialogue in the context of West Vancouver.
Monday March 17, 2025
– Elspeth Bradbury – The Living Garden: More Than a Pretty Place
We will have the pleasure of hearing from a well known member of the West Vancouver landscape design community Elspeth Bradbury. Elspeth, who is also an author, has written a book entitled West Vancouver: A View Through the Trees as well as books of poetry. In addition, she has a passion for helping others to think differently as they tend their own gardens that have been influenced by climate change. She will help us find better solutions.
Monday March 31, 2025 – Special Meeting
– CFUW Proposed Resolutions
An extra meeting to consider our input to potential proposed policy issues that are coming up from CFUW Clubs across the country. To assist us, a small treat will be provided.
TUESDAY April 22, 2025 – Earth Day Event
– Karen Crosby – Sharing Climate Solutions for Hope and Action
In recognition of Earth Day, our annual CFUW West Vancouver Event will be held on April 22, 2025, and is being arranged by our Climate Change Interest Group. Karen Crosby is a former teacher, a director of RegenerateBC, and recently launched the New Westminster Climate Hub.
Monday May 12, 2025 – AGM Keynote Speaker
– Tamara White, Small Housing, Executive Director
For the culmination of our CFUW West Vancouver Year – our AGM, we are pleased to have Tamara White share how her organization’s advocacy will change the landscape of housing options that will be available in neighbourhoods across B.C.
Business in Vancouver recognized Tamara White as one of Vancouver’s top Forty Under 40 in 2023.
Past Programs for 2023-24
Monday, September 18, 2023 – In Person
– Inside West Vancouver by Rod Day
Rod Day has lived in the same house with his family on Sinclair Street for 59 years. He is professor emeritus in history at Simon Fraser University and has a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.A.-Ph.D. from Harvard University. He served as municipal councillor in West Vancouver from 1987 to 1996 and 2003 to 2008 and for over 30 years on various advisory boards and commissions, mainly in planning, design and parks.
A year ago he published a book Inside West Vancouver, People, Politics and Planning since 1912 based on his years of service to West Van and on his skills as an historian and researcher. He used his own collection of documents and those of the West Vancouver Archives, combining his personal experience and professional skills in a landmark history of West Vancouver.
Monday, October 16, 2023 – Zoom
– Serving North Shore Youth with Vulnerabilities by Lynn Green
Lynn will outline Hollyburn Community Services Society efforts to support youth, seniors, and families. The services include providing shelter to those at risk or experiencing homelessness, and supporting survivors of violence. Lynn will also provide an overview of the Take a Hike Foundation program which partners with B.C. school districts to offer a unique educational program to youth. Recently it opened a class at Inglewood Secondary School.
Monday, November 20, 2023 – Zoom
– Impact of AI / ChatGPT – Joseph Fall
Computational science defines the thread of Joseph Fall’s career. Fall’s primary research interests lie in ways to improve teaching and learning. He will provide a brief history of AI technologies discussing what it means for an algorithm to “learn” and anticipated uses of AI in our daily lives.
Monday, December 11, 2023 – In Person
– Christmas Celebrations
Monday, January 15, 2024 – Zoom
– Plains of Africa by Gina Goranson
Gina will discuss a bucket list trip to the Plains of Africa. The tour explored Kenya, home to incredible wildlife, from cheetahs to wildebeests was such a thrill including viewing elephants, lions, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards – collectively known as the “Big 5” The tour met members of the Samburu tribe and the group visited the beautiful Masai Mara Game Reserve. One special day ended with full day game drive, a traditional dinner in the bush and a Masai dance performance.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 – Zoom
– Preserving our Unique Coastal Old Growth Urban Forest by Daphne Hales – Lighthouse Park Preservation Society
Daphne Hales is a Founding Member and Director of Lighthouse Park Preservation Society. She will speak about the establishment of the volunteer-run charitable society to preserve the environment of the park’s forest and describe highlights of its work.
Monday, March 18, 2024 – Zoom
– Resolutions Meeting
Monday, April 15, 2024 – In Person
– Youth and Climate Change
An opportunity, in advance of Earth Day Events in 2024, to explore with Youth how Climate Change has impacted their world and their community.
You will hear from a panel of local passionate young people about important issues in our world today. They will share why taking action is necessary, what the future might look like and how we all can be involved in the solutions.
Our Panelists: Ulwiana Mehta-Malhotra, Lia Che and Jin Chen, Eva Grdina and Isabel Rodriguez Rojas, are students at Mulgrave School and the University of British Columbia and will cover topics such as: Fast Fashion – a detrimental footprint but with positive industry innovation, Food Security and Waste, Environmental Change and its impact on wildlife species and Dietary Choices and the Health of the Planet.
Our Panel Moderator is Glenys Galloway, President of the Canadian Federation of University Women – West Vancouver Chapter.
Monday, May 13, 2024 – In Person – Annual General Meeting
– Reflections from a Judicial Dinosaur by Justice Randall Wong (Retired)
The Honourable Justice Randall (Bud) Wong is a pioneer in Canadian law. He served as the first Chinese Canadian provincial Crown Counsel, a BC Provincial Court judge, and was the first Chinese Canadian federally appointed judge to the British Columbia County Court. Bud’s talk begins with his early third-generation Chinese-Canadian Family roots in Vancouver. He will describe his experiences as a young lawyer during the 1960s and 70s. He will also tell courthouse stories about BC lawyers and judges, especially the emergence of feminist women in law. Finally, he will reveal his hope and predictions about the future of the legal profession.
Event starts at 6:30 for social period and light refreshments.
For current programs see Programs