In 2025 CFUW Scarborough proudly celebrates 65 years of learning, advocacy, and friendship. Since receiving its charter in 1960, the club has brought together women in Scarborough committed to education, equality, and community service.
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The idea for a Scarborough club originated with Ruth Parry, who, with nine other founding members, established the University Women’s Club of Scarborough under the guidance of Laura Sabia, then Provincial Director of the Canadian Federation of University Women, and members of CFUW North York.
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A Legacy of Learning, Advocacy and Action
Early meetings were held at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in Agincourt, later moving to Christ Church Scarborough Village, the University of Toronto’s Scarborough College, and Bendale Library. Today, members meet once again in Agincourt — at Knox United Church’s Christian Education Centre.
From the beginning, CFUW Scarborough has been a place where thoughtful discussion meets meaningful action.
In the early 1970s members of the Education Study Group worked with the Scarborough Board of Education to examine the influential Hall-Dennis Report on Ontario’s education goals.
Their two-year study produced briefs submitted to both the Board and the Ministry of Education.
Other study groups explored forward-thinking topics such as natural-resource depletion, recycling, women in science, violence in the media, equal pay, nursery schooling, and voting reform.
A longstanding priority has been the annual provision of scholarships to support women’s education. Fundraising began in the 1960s with a theatre troupe and has included quilt raffles, gourmet dinners, bridge parties, book fairs, and fashion shows. Today, part of each member’s annual fee supports awards for women studying at the University of Toronto Scarborough and Centennial College. Members also support Juliette’s Place and the Scarborough Women’s Centre.
Scholarship to Study Women’s Issues Launched
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In 2006 our club was featured in the University of Toronto Magazine for a groundbreaking partnership with the University of Toronto Scarborough. Together, we launched a scholarship program for students with a passion for women’s issues.
The article noted that three awards were created, with the first to be presented that fall — an important milestone in our ongoing mission to promote education, equity and opportunity.​
Kathie Krashinsky, then CFUW Scarborough’s awards convenor, told the magazine: “This gift celebrates the importance of grassroots community partnerships, which are at the heart of our chapter’s mission.”
​The aims established by CFUW Scarborough’s founders remain central to our work: fostering lifelong learning, encouraging active citizenship, and strengthening community connections. That same spirit is alive in our interest groups, where members share ideas and friendship through book clubs, bridge games, walks, and cultural activities.
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You can learn more about the topics we’ve recently explored and supported on our Advocacy page.
The Quilting Project
Back in 1976 CFUW Scarborough’s craft group considered making a quilt to be raffled, with most of the proceeds going to the Scholarship Fund. A quilting group was formed, and decided on a pieced quilt in autumn colours. After discovering that a permit was required they obtained a licence the following year, and set a ticket price of just $1 each and three tickets for $2. The first $500 raised would be donated to the Scholarship Fund, and any extra would go to the General Operating Fund of the club.
Members pitched in by selling raffle tickets to family and friends, and the draw was held at the club’s April 1977 meeting. President Muriel Cluett drew the winning ticket and presented the quilt to Treasurer Mollie Elliot. The club had sold 1,046 tickets and raised $749 (the equivalent of about $3,530 in 2023); after expenses were paid, a donation of $600 was made to the Scholarship Fund and $85.33 went to the club.
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The craft group so enjoyed the experience of working on the project that the members decided to spend another year at the craft, learning the finer points of quilting and investigating new patterns, designs and techniques.