CFUW West Vancouver meets September to May
on the 4th Tuesday of the month
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Kiwanis’ Great Hall, 975 – 21 St, West Vancouver
Prospective members and guests always welcome.
Program for 2025-26
As our Program Series progresses throughout the year we will share more information about our speakers, their backgrounds and their topics. Please pencil these activities and speakers into your calendar. You will not want to miss any of these opportunities. Invite your friends and family too, we’re sure that there is much that they would enjoy.
Monday, September 23, 2025
–Michelle Dodds, Executive Director, North Shore Women’s Centre, Discussion on Current Issues
Michelle is honoured to have worked as the Director of the North Shore Women’s Centre since 1999, following an MA in Women’s Studies from Simon Fraser University and community work in women’s social justice and advocacy organizations. She is passionate about gender equity, and creating accessible community spaces and learning opportunities that facilitate social change. Michelle has enjoyed living on the North Shore since 2006.
Tuesday October 28, 2025
– Melissa Duchak, Executive Director of the Kay Meek Arts Centre
Have you ever wondered what it takes to put on a show at the Kay Meek Arts Centre? In this talk, Executive Director Melissa Duchak gives a behind-the-scenes look into the daily life of a vibrant venue that presents everything from plays and films to concerts and dance performances.
Melissa has over 20 years experience in performing arts management, locally and internationally, including the curation and implementation of both artistic and educational programming. An oboist by training, she holds a Masters’ Degree in music performance from UBC, and recently completed a Doctorate in education from the University of Sheffield.
Previously, Melissa was the Vice-President, Learning and Integrative Strategies at the VSO and the VSO School of Music. She also taught arts management for 10 years at Inholland University in the Netherlands.
Melissa’s background provides a unique perspective for the Kay Meek Arts Centre’s combination of professional, community and school programming. She brings her dedication to, and passion for, the power of the performing arts to inspire, engage and connect with each other and our community.
Tuesday November 25, 2025
– Prevention of Violence Lunch, noon, Location TBD
Our annual lunch commemorating those who lost their lives in the L’Ecole Polytechnique massacre. This fundraiser supports scholarships for women in our community.
Tuesday December 9, 2025
– Christmas Season Social
A time of fun, games and music creatively arranged by our Social Committee to celebrate the Season. Take the opportunity to share with those less fortunate by contributing to a worthy Community Organization.
Tuesday January 27, 2026
– Dan Levitt, BC Seniors Advocate
Join Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt for a conversation about what’w working and what’s not for seniors in the community. He will also share insights into the role of the Office of the Seniors Advocate, discuss key concerns raised by seniors across BC and present highlights from recent and ongoing studies from the office.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
– Iona Whishaw, author of the Lane Winslow mystery series
Iona Whishaw is a former educator and social worker whose mother and grandfather were both spies during their respective wars. She is the award-winning author of the Globe and Mail bestselling Lane Winslow Mystery series.
Tuesday March 24, 2026
– Proposed Resolutions Meeting
A 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 28, 2026 – Earth Day Event
– Lenore Newman, Innovative Research on Improving Food Production
In recognition of Earth Day, our annual CFUW West Vancouver Event will be held on April 28, 2026.
Dr. Lenore Newman is the Director of the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley where she specializes in agricultural innovation and policy. She holds a research chair in food and agriculture innovation and is a past Canada Research Chair in Food Security and the Environment. She is an associate professor in the School of Land Use and Environmental Change and is an emeritus member of the Royal Society of Canada’s New College.
She will speak about growing and accessing affordable food, her innovative research on food production, as well as her ground-breaking work utilizing agricultural technology and enhanced land use to facilitate productivity.
Tuesday May 26, 2025 – AGM
Keynote Speaker – Heather Galilee – Safe & Smooth Travels
Learn about practical tips to save time, money, and hassles during your travels. We’ll discuss ways to ensure smooth interactions wherever you go, followed by essential travel medical tips. You will learn about useful apps for both travel convenience and safety. And we’ll wrap up by exploring some of Heather’s personal favourite destinations and current deals you can find through Travel Best Bets.
For prior programs: click