Date: November 17, 2025

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Place: Knox Christian Centre (Knox United Church), Scarborough

Number in attendance: 29 + 1 guest

 

President Beth Raymer welcomed members and read the Land Acknowledgement.

 

The minutes of the October 20th general meeting were approved. Moved by Sandra Campbell, seconded by Gail Doehler.

 

Advocacy Moment:  Elizabeth Ritchie reported that Eva Nichols had written a letter protesting Bill 33, which would give the Ontario provincial government (in particular the Minister of Education) control over school boards and trustees. CFUW’s Ontario Council has also requested that the bill be pulled back. The letter was sent to Ontario’s premier, three cabinet ministers, and all Scarborough MPPs.

 

Elizabeth described intimate partner violence as a crisis, and referred members to Ontario MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam’s petition to immediately pass Bill 55: Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025 in the Ontario legislature.

 

Fundraising: 

• Doreen Dickson noted that Christmas is fast approaching and that the Purdy's Chocolates fundraiser had started. Last year the club made $3,000 from the sale of the chocolates. Brochures available. 

• The anticipated date of next year’s Tea Party is May 2nd . Sign-up sheets were available at the meeting.

 

The Christmas party will be held on December 8th at Bev Baird's home, 49 Pine Ridge Drive, starting at 7:30 p.m.

 

Website: Beth Raymer demonstrated the improved and updated website and encouraged members to sign in with their own accounts, which will give them access to members-only material and allow them to add interest groups. Beth also asked if anyone would be willing to help update the website once the club’s Centennial College student, Nikita Jacob, competes her placement in December, and and advised that training would be available through Nikita.

 

Marg Crean suggested that minutes of general meetings and executive committee meetings be made available in the Members Only section of the site, with the executive committee minutes available to executive members only. Ruth Wolff mentioned a seminar she attended in which digital archives were not recommended, and recommended that minutes be archived as paper copies. Beth said that CFUW Ontario is encouraging clubs to create digital archives (which CFUW Scarborough is pursuing).

 

Beth requested a co-editor, alongside Kathie Krashinsky, for the monthly e-bulletin.

 

Speaker:  Jean Witherspoon introduced Dianne Scott, author of the Christine Lane mystery series, set against the backdrop of the Toronto Islands. Policewoman Christine Lane survives the male-dominated police force in the late 1960s, during which time there were 40 female officers to 4,000 male. Female officer duties focused on youth, the elderly, talks at schools and undercover when required. They were paid the same as male police officers but had to quit if they married another officer or became pregnant.  The series comprises five standalone novels, all of which were available for members to purchase and one book of which was raffled off. Eva Nichols thanked Dianne and remarked how her storylines and setting evoked familiar memories.

 

Dagmar Freeland sold 50/50 tickets. Jean Witherspoon won $43.50.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:50.

 

The next general meeting is scheduled for January 19th on Zoom, with social time starting at 7 p.m. and the meeting starting at 7:30 p.m.

 

Minutes compiled and submitted by Maureen McMorrow.