Connections | November 2019

Every Woman's Place for Support, Connections and Community.

Organize a Toy Drive to Support Women and Their Families This Holiday Season

From Monday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 18, the Women's Centre's Annual Toy Room will take place. This program allows women to pick gifts for themselves and their children to open over the holidays. In 2018, our Toy Room made the holidays brighter for over 3600 women and children. We are anticipating even more this year, and need your help! 

What can you do? Organize a Toy Drive! Whether for a corporation, business, or even a Christmas party, organizing a toy drive is easy and we would love to help. We can accept donations of new and unopened gifts only.

Giving Tuesday is also the perfect excuse to encourage your friends and family, or even yourself to buy some toys to donate to the Women's Centre and support a great cause. Contact Emma at emma@womenscentrecalgary.org for gift ideas, and any other information about toy pick-ups, toy drives, and donations.   

Calgary Climate Symposium

From November 2-7, the City of Calgary is hosting a Climate Symposium, opening up discussion on climate change, how it affects Calgarians, and what you can do about it.

For the schedule, list of speakers, and more information visit the website  here.

Marda Loop Justice Film Festival

Marda Loop Justice Film Festival presents some of the world's best documentaries on the issues that are important to us as individuals, Canadians, global citizens, and humans.

The festival runs from November 12-17. All screenings are free. For full details on documentaries and showtimes visit the festival website here

ACTLA Women's Legal Forum Gala

Join the ACTLA for a night of Her-Story on November 13. Please note that this is a paid event, and half the ticket sales will go to the Women's Centre.

For more information and tickets click here

Red Dress Workshop

Calgary Public Library is proud to host Red Dress Day in partnership with Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society .

The day is to raise awareness of the ongoing national crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Event attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Awo Taan staff and community advocates with a personal connection to MMIWG and be invited to take part in a Red Dress Workshop.

The workshop takes place Tuesday, November 19, 10am - 2pm at the Central Library. For more details click here

National Child Day

Following the recent Federal Election, join in the conversation, November 20, 8:30am to 3:30 pm, on all things children's rights and making Canada a better place for them to grow up.

Visit here to register.

Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Women's Healing Ceremony

The Calgary Indigenous & Non-Indigenous Women's Talking Stick Healing Ceremony meets monthly to offer a sacred and safe space for women to gather and share their life stories, offering healing, support, and community.

This month's event will take place on Sunday, November 24, 1-4pm at the Scarboro United Church

To register, contact
 talkingstickhealing@gmail.com


Metis Lifeways Gathering of Elders

Métis Local 87 is bringing together Métis traditional knowledge keepers from Calgary and the surrounding areas to tell stories that speak of Métis lifeways and personal experiences.

Saturday, November 30, 10am - 3pm at Metis Local 87 (1539 43 St SE).
This event is open to all.

Femme Wave Festival

Calgary's only feminist arts festival, is taking place from November 7-11. Check out their schedule here for a list of music, visual art, film, comedy, workshops, and so much more that highlights the artistic works of women and non-binary artists. Many of the events are "pay what you can."




































































































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Women's Centre Legal Clinics Offer Free Legal Advice
Did you know the Women's Centre has legal clinics? We offer free 30 minute sessions with volunteer women lawyers. Women can access legal advice for issues such as separation and divorce, child custody and support, and civil issues such as discrimination. 

Read our blog for more information on our legal services and how to book an appointment.
Applications for Women Lead YYC now open! 
Women Lead YYC is now accepting applications for its fifth cohort. Sessions will run on Monday evenings from January 20 - March 2 in Winter 2020. We're inviting 20 women from all walks of life to come together for six weeks of leadership, activism, and community building. 

Women Lead YYC is a free program for women interested in working for positive change in their communities.  Sessions will cover topics like community organizing, strategic communications, movement building, connecting with allies, and addressing systemic barriers and root causes of community problems.  Whether you have years of experience working to influence change, or are interested in connecting with a group of inspiring women, Women Lead YYC is for you.

Click here for more information, or to register. Applications for Women Lead YYC Cohort Five will close November 29, 2019. 
Environmental Issues: Women Should Know Each Other
You are invited to join us on November 20 from 6-8pm for our first Environmental Issues Discussion of Women Should Know Each Other. There are many women in Calgary spearheading some impressive initiatives on environmental issues. If you're interested in or working on environmental issues, join us for a series of facilitated discussions. This interactive discussion is for all women.

To register for this event click here.
Make Connections in Our Girls Programs
Our after school Girls Programs run all year! Girl Power After School is for grades 5 and 6, and Girl Force is for grades 7-9. These programs allow girls to connect while discussing issues important to them such as self-esteem, climate change and feminism, and have some fun with crafts, activities and fun workshops. 

These are free programs, with food and bus fare provided. Visit our website here for more information, and if interested in registering, contact Alexe at alexe@womenscentrecalgary.com.
Meet Tanya, our Reconciliation Coordinator
We're welcoming a new team member. Meet the Women's Centre's new Reconciliation Coordinator, Tanya!

Read Tanya's welcome blog  here.
2019 is the Year of Indigenous Languages

Calgary Women's Centre celebrates that 2019 is the  Year of Indigenous Languages , declared by the United Nations.

New on the Women's Centre's  blog read about the importance of preserving and protecting Indigenous languages here.
Call for Artists! 
The Artists in Residence program is now accepting applications for the 2020 program. If you're interested, please send us your portfolio and a short statement on why you'd like to complete a residency at the Women's Centre of Calgary. 

You can send any questions/inquiries or your application over to jessy@womenscentrecalgary.org
November Workshops

For a full list of upcoming November workshops and to register view our calendar here

Learn how to plan your own workshop and gain effective facilitation tools and techniques for creating an engaging workshop for participants.  This workshop is open to anyone interested in improving their facilitation skills.

This free workshop is hosted with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, and guides you through making your own moccasins, while conversing and learning more about Indigenous cultures.

Join Women Power on the second Wednesday of every month. Together, we will eat some food, connect with other women, share our skills, and learn from each other. This month we will make Holiday Cards.
Our Vision: Women Supporting Communities, Communities Supporting Women.