By Karen Tripp/CFUW Cranbrook

The Cranbrook Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is proud to be celebrating its 30th anniversary on September 20, with a special event.  It will begin at 7 p.m. at the Manual Training School attached to the Cranbrook Public Library.  Refreshments will be served and the event is open to the public.

Guest speaker Ghada Alatrash (Janbey) will speak on ‘Think of Others’: Building Bridges between East and West.

Like many clubs, the CFUW is a non-profit organization.  There are approximately 125 clubs across Canada working towards the goals of stimulating interest in cultural, social and political fields, developing sound concepts of educational value, awarding scholarships and bursaries, establishing good relationships with other organizations and using our own education for the benefit of the community in which we serve. CFUW is affiliated with the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), a global organization advocating for women’s rights, equality and empowerment through access to quality education and training up to the highest levels.

In 1984 CFUW Cranbrook started an annual recognition program called Woman Of The Year.  Recipients of this award are very much admired and respected in the community and are often “unsung heroines”.

Any woman in the East Kootenay region is eligible to receive the award based on the following criteria: her contributions to the education and/or advancement of women, and how she has inspired and enriched the lives around her by her endeavors. The recipients’ contributions and achievements may have taken place in the last year or over a period of time. Her efforts may have been part of paid employment, voluntary, or a combination of both. “Education” does not necessarily carry an academic meaning, but can be more widely interpreted to mean supporting and encouraging learning.

CFUW Cranbrook has a wonderful scrapbook which has pictures and news articles about each recipient. Each page is artfully decorated in the new scrapbook methods of the day. It will be on display at our 30th anniversary celebration, with many recipients in attendance.

On the occasion of our landmark anniversary, we are pleased to remember each of our Woman of the

Year recipients:

1984 – Julie Roberts

1985 – Sophie Pierre

1986 – Jan Levang

1987 – Roberta Taylor, Harjinder Sheena (posthumous)

1988 – Susan Selby

1989 – Anna Mae Gartside

1990 – Pat Skordal

1991 – Sheilah Moore

1992 – Louise Stropky

1993 – Pat Townshend

1994 – Brenda Paul

1995 – Ann Rice

1996 – Mary Phillips

1997 – Elaine Fawcett, Cathy Fairclough, Mabel Chan (posthumous)

1998 – Susan Campbell

1999 – Ann Buckman

2000 – Daphne Hayden

2001 – Ruby Sinclair

2002 – Flo Reid

2003 – Mila Siquenza

2004 – Linda Abbott, Leona Gatsby

2005 – Karin Penner

2006 – Janyce Bampton

2007 – Janice Edwards

2008 – Joanne Wilton

2009 – Jayne Garner-Garlaneau

2010 – Sandy Zeznick

2011 – Velma McKay, Vicky Dalton

Above photo: 1984: The first Woman of the Year, Julie Roberts, accepts her award from Rhonda Lakowski, Treasurer of the University Women’s Club, as it was then known.

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