CONNECTIONS SEPTEMBER 2020
Women's Centre Open Extended Hours Soon!
As of Tuesday, September 8, we will be open for appointments extended hours: Mondays 9:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M., Tuesdays - Thursdays 9:30 A.M - 8:30 P.M. We will also offer some workshops in-person and continue some online.

We continue to be open for in-person services by appointment Monday-Thursday 9:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. We can provide support for personal care items, legal advice, and some referrals, like the Food Bank and Dress for Success. During the appointment time women can also use the computer, phone, or sit and have coffee. Women are also now encouraged to bring a friend to the Centre if you like. We will continue to ask the COVID-19 screening questions at the door and request everyone please wear a mask while at the Centre.

Please call us (403)264-1155, or visit our website for more details.
The Rise and Fall of Lesbian Nation

An Interview with Dr. Lillian Faderman 
Date: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m. MT
Platform: Zoom

The Calgary Institute for the Humanities Second Annual LGBTQ2S+ Lecture presents Dr. Lillian Faderman.

This topical lecture, hosted during Calgary Pride, will examine why lesbian feminism was so important to women in the 1970s and ‘80s. In diving into this topic with Dr. Lillian Faderman, you’ll gain a deeper understanding into how the movement emerged; what the movement did for women and the controversy over TERFs ("trans-exclusionary radical feminists") and the trans issue, and the complex reasons that account for its fall. 
Anti-Oppression Webinar

This webinar, presented by Calgary Pride Learning Series endeavours to create bridges of understanding about the Two-Spirit community.

It will look into the different forms of oppression we navigate in Canada, as well as ways we can break free and empower ourselves and our communities.

This event takes place online on September 4, 2:00-5:00 P.M. Register here.
Calgary Pride 2020

The Calgary Pride Festival and Parade takes place each Labour Day long weekend, with thousands gathering in celebration of gender and sexual diversity. This year, due to health guidelines related to COVID-19, the 30th anniversary of Calgary Pride has been reimagined.

Calgary Pride 2020 will take place virtually and through a series of community-hosted #OurPride events, bringing Calgary together in a whole new way.

Calgary Pride 2020 will feature over 200 LGBTQ2S+ artists, a free Learning Series featuring over 100 workshops, #OurPride community partner events, daily DJ and Drag Hour entertainment leading up to Parade Day, and 11 hours of jam-packed entertainment on September 6.

Details and schedule on their website.
Registration open for Momentum's Money Management Courses

Take the online courses today:
  • Register online.
  • After you register, you can start right away!
  • When you finish the course and the short survey, you will earn a Certificate of Completion.

For more information, please email moneymanagement@momentum.org or phone 403-204-2664.
We Are Now Able to Recruit and Train New Volunteers
We have implemented safety and cleaning protocols in the Centre to keep volunteers and women safe.
Thank you for your interest in supporting the Women’s Centre and women in the community.

Opportunities are available for:
  • Peer Support Volunteers
  • Legal Assistants
  • Wednesday Bread Pickup

Please contact Allison: allison@womenscentrecalgary.org for details on available opportunities. Or, visit our volunteer sign-up portal link below.
Our Online AGM was a Success
Thank you to all of the participants who were able to attend our Annual General Meeting online. We miss the opportunity to meet with you all in person, but were happy to see your faces at the meeting.

Our new board of directors has a collective 300 years of experience in feminist issues. We are thankful to our directors who finished their terms and those continuing. And we welcome our newest members to the board.

If you were unable to attend the event you can read the updates from 2019 on our website.
Reconciliation Training
The Women’s Centre Reconciliation training workshop hosted on Tuesday, September 22, 1:00-3:00 P.M. will provide some details of Indigenous history for background and context to some of the issues impacting Indigenous populations. The workshop applies a gender lens on colonization and explores the barriers faced by Indigenous women in particular. We will also look at Indigenous social issues and decolonization. Participants of the Reconciliation training have an opportunity to learn about Indigenous women in a safe space, and explore some of the tools needed to be an ally.
Environmental Issues: Women and Water
On Wednesday, September 23, 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. the Women's Centre of Calgary is hosting an event to celebrate and share stories of how water is being used, and the ways our communities come together to protect access to clean drinking water.

We are honored to have speakers Marsha Heavyhead, Environmental Technician for the Blood Tribe Land Management Department along with Grace Wark, Conservation Specialist for the Alberta Wilderness Association for an evening of story telling and discussion on community water issues. 

For more details and to register please visit our website.
A Reconciliation Event on Awareness of
Residential Schools and Intergenerational Trauma 
Join us on Tuesday, September 29, 1:00 - 3:00 P.M. for an afternoon with an Indigenous facilitator, who will explore the impacts of residential schools and intergenerational trauma on Indigenous people. Participants will have a chance to listen and learn, then engage with the facilitator by asking questions. The afternoon will wrap up with a small activity in order to commemorate Orange Shirt Awareness Day. This workshop will be held in-person at the Women’s Centre following Alberta Health guidelines.
Girls Programs Return with Online & In-Person Options
We are excited to be offering three programs (online and in-person options) for girls this fall! The programs are absolutely free, and include supplies, snacks, and bus tickets.

The Girls Programs offer opportunities for girls in grades 5-9 to learn and share knowledge about leadership, activism, and community building within a safe, girls-only space. Girls will explore topics such as gender stereotypes, body image, reconciliation, current events, and more, based on their interest, and will also have opportunities to lead sessions or activities to exercise their leadership skills. They will also engage in fun activities such as music, crafts, dancing or yoga.

Please note: we have implemented safety protocols and will follow the provincial guidelines to ensure optimal safety for the participants, staff, and volunteers.
SEPTEMBER WORKSHOPS
September Workshops
For a full list of upcoming September workshops and to register, view our calendar here.
This is a conversation group for women to practice English for daily life. This program is a free virtual drop-in program for any English level. Please visit our website for links to the weekly class.
We invite you to join this weekly yoga class hosted by the Women's Centre virtually. Perfect for all abilities. Participate in self-care. Focus on slowly moving into basic yoga postures while using your breath, which enables you to be present and mindful. You will leave the class with increased vitality and a fostered connection to yourself.
Intro to the Women's Centre

Learn about the history of the Women’s Centre, the peer model, and why we do what we do. This workshop is required for anyone to volunteer at the Women’s Centre. This workshop will be held in-person at the Women’s Centre while following Alberta Health guidelines; however, the event could move online via Zoom if provincial health circumstances change. We will ensure health screening at the door, social distancing throughout the workshop, and will provide a mask and hand sanitizer. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, child-minding will not be available during this workshop. 
Women's Centre of Calgary www.womenscentrecalgary.org