CELEBRATING 100 YEARS: 1918 -2018
This year, as the Niagara District Council of Women celebrated 100 Years of Community Service, we hosted several community events.
We began celebrating this historical occasion with special projects, including a new brochure and banner; our first web site; and a membership outreach letter to like-minded groups and individuals in the Niagara region. We now have 26 federated members from across Niagara and many individual members.
In the spring, we planted a commemorative tree in Malcolmson Eco-Park to honour our founding president Mary Malcolmson (who also started the first Girl Guide troupe in Canada in St. Catharines). The park is named after Mary Malcolmson and a dedication plaque was placed with the tree. Members of the Niagara District Council of Women, along with family and friends, attended the tree ceremony on April 27, 2018. NDCW President, Gracia Janes, gave a talk about Mary Malcolmson and her many contributions to our community. Mary Potter provided us with information about the tree we planted, a sassafrass tree. Caroline Rigby of Niagara-on-the-Lake, granddaughter of Mary Malcolmson, shared many family memories about her grandmother. Dr. Sam Malcolmson of Toronto, also talked about his memories of his well-known grandmother. Also in attendance to celebrate our tree planting were St. Catharines city Councillors Carlos Garcia, Sandie Bellows and Mike Britton.
Our 100th AGM Dinner Meeting was celebrated April 11, 2018 at Antipastos Di Roma in St. Catharines. Our guest speaker was Maryanne Edwards who gave an inspiring talk about Women in Leadership. MPP Jim Bradley delivered special congratulations from Ontario Lieutanant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell and Premier Kathleen Wynne. Mayor Walter Sendzik brought congratulations on behalf of the City of St. Catharines. Our Past Presidents were honoured with a special introduction and Secretary Sophie Lakis presented each Past President with a blue long-stemmed rose. The new 2018 Board of Directors was installed. Communications Convenor, Ann Porter Bonilla, created a display of posters of each of our recent Past Presidents with a photo and bio. There was also a special display to honour our founding President, Mary Malcolmson with a photo and biographical write-up prepared by Brock University student, Teresa Annette De Carlo-Galbraith.
The Niagara District Council of Women hosted the National Council of Women of Canada’s 125th Annual General Meeting at the Residence and Conference Centre at Niagara College’s Niagara on the Lake Campus from June 7-10. The theme of this year’s AGM was Eradicating Poverty. The National AGM was a great success and much appreciation was received for our work hosting this event.
The Niagara District Council of Women had a visual display of our history exhibited at the St. Catharines Centennial Library. Secretary Sophie Lakis set up the large display window which was on exhibit for the entire month of June.
The Niagara District Council of Women would like to thank the following members of our community for their kind donations to help with our 100thAnniversary Celebrations:
Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society (PALS)
Niagara College
Benchmark Restaurant and Canadian Food & Wine Institute
Residence & Conference Centre – Niagara College, Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus
JoAnne Robichaud, Norwex Independent Sales Consultant
Niagara Airbus Inc.
Shoppers Drug Mart, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Picard’s, Niagara-on-the-Lake Store
Neob Niagara Lavender
Grape Growers of Ontario
The Printing House, Welland
Maple Leaf Fudge, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Outlet Collection, Niagara