CONNECTIONS
NOVEMBER 2022
Support the 2022 Holiday Toy Room!!!
The holidays can be difficult for many, and thousands of women in Calgary struggle to afford holiday gifts for their children. Please help make the holidays brighter for families in our community.

The annual Holiday Toy Room is a program for women and their children (ages 0-17) to receive newly purchased gifts generously donated by Calgarians. Last year, over 4,500 women and children received gifts for the holidays, and we anticipate more demand this year.

The Toy Room Program begins Thursday, December 8 and runs till Wednesday, December 21.
Here's how you can help us this Holiday Season
  1. Host a Toy Drive for the Women's Centre: for more details on organizing a toy drive, please visit our website, or email Linda or Erika.
  2. Purchase toys online to ship directly to the Centre through Castle Toys to ship directly to the Centre. Use code WOMENSCENTRE2022 to receive 20% off online or in-store.
  3. Drop off new, unopened toys at your local Toy Drive or at the Centre (39 - 4 Street NE).
  4. Shop for toys on our Amazon Wishlist. 
  5. Volunteer - Phone Duty Volunteers and Community Connector positions available.
  6. Donate money directly to the Women's Centre Toy Room Program online at womenscentrecalgary.org.
UPDATES IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY
Social Issues Readings




We use our social issues readings section to share articles on current events and analysis on a variety of topics. Sign up for our Social Issues Readings newsletter for more!
Save the Date: Giving Tuesday 2022

Giving Tuesday will take place on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.

Stay tuned for more updates, or visit our online giving page here.

Are you looking for a place to build a community and support system and talk about issues affecting you? Then join us at the Women’s Centre for “Woman to Woman.” A place where we connect, support each other, eat and chat. Drop-ins are welcome.

For more information, please email RSVP@womenscentrecalgary.org or call us at (403) 264-1155
Women's Digital Literacy Program

This is a FREE program starting January. Women will have the opportunity to learn computer skills with the help of one on one trained tutors. Some of the lesson plans will include using zoom, emails, online safety among other. Resources will be provided.

To register, please email RSVP@womenscentrecalgary.org

Come to the Women’s Centre to have a coffee or cold drink with a group of plant-loving folks. Relax and chat about all things gardening or whatever else comes to mind. We meet rain or shine, outdoors or indoors, winter or summer.

For the Fall season, we will be doing garden clean up, learning about seed saving from a member of the Calgary Horticulture Society and planning for next year. This group is open to all women-identifying folks. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

For information or to sign up, call (403) 264-1155 or email RSVP@womenscentrecalgary.org
Tax Clinics

Women’s Centre volunteers can prepare taxes for low-income women. While doing the taxes, volunteers provide information on how to access associated benefits such as:

  1. GST rebate
  2. Canada child tax benefits
  3. provincial child health benefits
  4. assistance with other forms

For more information and drop-in information this November, call us at (403) 264-1155 or stop by the Centre.
We Need Your Help!
Basic Needs Donation Callout
As the holidays approach again this year, we are in need of your help now more than ever. Thanks to you, we were able to assist over 7,000 women in Calgary last year, and we anticipate 3 times that number this year.

Consider hosting basic needs drive in your community or shopping our Amazon wishlist to help us provide women with access to personal care items often regarded as luxuries, such as shampoo, pads and tampons, diapers, Christmas gifts, and more.

Please visit our website for an extended list of basic needs items, and to register a donation drive.
Shop our Amazon Wishlist here.

Thank you so much for supporting our cause!
Pandemic Recovery
Building a More Equitable Future for Women
The Women’s Centre is working toward an inclusive, gender-just and equitable recovery from COVID-19.

With funding support from Women and Gender Equality Canada, the Women’s Centre is engaging with diverse groups of women and organizations in our community to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic better and to develop community-informed policy solutions toward an inclusive, just and equitable recovery.

To get a well-rounded scope of our published discussion paper as well as other phases in our Wage Grant Project, please read our latest blog update.
If you have lived experience as a woman and/or identify as a woman and would like to share your experiences of COVID-19, or your ideas on policy solutions, please contact Michelle James.
Environmental Issues Walk
Join us on Saturday, November 12, from 10 A.M. - 1 P.M. for a day in Nose Hill Park with Elder Mary Ellen Little Mustache. We will look at the importance of plants and experience some traditional Indigenous games. The bus leaves the Women’s Centre (39-4 St NE) at 10:00 A.M.

Transportation, food, and refreshments will be provided. Please wear comfortable shoes and jackets for the cold weather. This activity will take about 2.5 hours, including stops.

To register or get more information, email RSVP@womenscentrecalgary.org or call us at (403) 264-1155
Book Nook Readings
We are excited to have two local authors reading in our book nook this month!

Trudy Cowan will be reading her story about a crafty little mouse on Friday, November 4, from 10 A.M. - 11 A.M.
&
Christina Hatton-Fearnley will read from one of her books about her adventures as a farmer on Friday, November 18, from 10 A.M. - 11 A.M.

Both authors also have activities for the kids, and the Centre will provide snacks for everyone. We’ve also got a beautiful gift set of children’s books provided by Calgary Reads for all participants! We look forward to seeing you.
This event is open to all women-identifying folks and all children.

To register, call (403) 264-1155 or email RSVP@womenscentrecalgary.org
NOVEMBER WORKSHOPS SPOTLIGHT
November Workshops
For a full list of upcoming and ongoing workshops, and to register, view our calendar here.

Join us at the Women’s Centre for relaxing Yoga sessions! We will enjoy physical, mental, and spiritual practices to calm the mind. This event series is perfect for all abilities.

Join us every week for a fun time as we connect with Zumba! Zumba class is the ultimate fitness party. It blends upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography for an effective, total-body workout.

Zumba will be in-person ONLY, except on days when the Women’s Centre is closed to the public. 

Join us at the Women’s Centre for mindfulness practice workshop.

An open invitation every Thursday for Indigenous women to join Nitsanak led by Miskanawah in partnership with the Women’s Centre of Calgary. This circle is open to all who identify as Indigenous women.
These workshops are open to all who identify as women. For more information on these workshops and events or to register, please email RSVP@womenscentrecalgary.org or call us at (403) 264-1155
UPDATED OPERATING HOURS
The Women's Centre will be open 9:30 A.M. - 7:P.M., Monday - Thursday,
and Friday 9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
Women's Centre of Calgary www.womenscentrecalgary.org