CFUW - SOUTH DELTA - CFUW

CFUW - SOUTH DELTA

Traditional Territory Acknowledgement:
"With gratitude, CFUW - SD acknowledges that for thousands of years the Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations, and all of the Hul'qumi'num (pronounced: hul-kee-me-number or hul-kee-me-num) speaking people have walked gently on the unceded territories where we now live, work and play. They have been the stewards of this land since time immemorial. As a community, we seek a new relationship with the First Peoples here, one based on honour and respect. We extend our appreciation to these First Nations for the opportunity to hold this meeting here today. "We pay our respects to the Elders past and present and support the 94 calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (Source: City of Delta, Delta School District #37, & Diocese of British Columbia)

Our Club members represent a cross-section of women living in the South Delta area. We come from a variety of backgrounds; teachers, healthcare, homemakers, professionals, students, and business. We all enjoy sharing ideas, supporting community programs, learning from speakers and of course, getting together for a variety of social activities!

Since our Club received its Charter on October 1, 1966, we have accomplished much.

We annually award scholarships and bursaries to women pursuing post-secondary education. Since 1995, CFUW-South Delta has provided 178 awards exceeding a total of $200,000.

We fundraise annually to support our bursaries and scholarships. Recently we have hosted choir events in conjunction with the local high school, held Once Loved Art Sales, and Book Sales. These efforts are augmented by fundraising programs with local grocery stores and a Fair Trade coffee roaster. Member participation in fundraising is optional.

We maintain the Side by Side reading program at a local elementary school. This terrific program was created by a Club member, and has helped hesitant readers learn to enjoy reading. Several Club members volunteer their time on a regular basis.

In 2021, a group of Club members formed a new Advocacy group, the Indigenous Outreach Group. The goal was to become better informed on Indigenous issues with the goal of becoming better allies to the Indigenous community. After much study and discussion, the group commenced what we hope will be a long relationship with UNYA, Urban Native Youth Association. In Spring 2022, the Indigenous Outreach Group, supported by many Club members, held a successful garage sale to make the initial deposit in the Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) administered by UNYA. In 2023, a second equally successful garage sale took place. As well, the Indigenous Outreach members have initiated additional fundraising for UNYA through a container refund program.The YEF fund provides financial assistance to enable Indigenous Youth to attend programs not otherwise funded.

In 2015- 2017, we spearheaded and advocated for the development of a Transition House in Delta for women and children fleeing family violence. Delta was the only municipality in the Lower Mainland with a population of 50,000+ that did not have this important Community resource! Our work involved much research, talk with other non-profits, as well as presentations to local and provincial government representatives. In August 2017, Delta’s first Transition House, Azure Place was opened! We have continued our relationship with Azure Place, providing bountiful Christmas hampers to the women and children who currently, and in the past, have stayed at Azure Place.

In 2012-2013, we were instrumental in promoting and advocating the need for the City of Delta to have a Social Planner. That position has been filled since 2016.

We wrote three resolutions that were accepted as CFUW policy.

that the Government of Canada maintain funding for the Arts in order to preserve our Canadian Heritage.
that the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments enact legislation to protect victims of human trafficking, and
that the Government of Canada establish the office of an Independent Federal Children’s Commissioner to monitor children’s rights in Canada, and to ensure the implementation of and future compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by Canada in 1991.