Deb Kosteniuk
RWC Rep
Prairie Region Council February 2020
RWC’s were in various stages of activity this winter:
Winnipeg
The Winnipeg RWC held their annual general meeting on December 3, 2019. They have chosen a delegate for the PSAC Regional Triennial. They are planning their budget and 2020 events.
Edmonton
Edmonton has formed two sub committees for childcare: one is working on the “Game of Life” childcare campaign and the other was setting up a winter childcare lobbying event with 7 MLA’s. They did a team building outing on November 28 by going to dinner and then attending the CLiFF movie festival held by the AFL. They held their fourth and final Visual Artistic Journey Workshop on November 30, 2019. Together with the other regional committees, they held an open house in December. On January 15, 2020 the regional committees held their annual general meetings, with all positions on the Committees up for election. They have chosen their delegate for the PSAC Regional Triennial.
Calgary
Calgary held their second Toy Drive from November 28 to December 12, 2019 with all donations going to the Toy Room at the Women’s Centre of Calgary. Over $1500 in toys and gifts for moms were donated by PSAC component local members. 7 women from the RWC volunteered on December 16, 2019 at the Toy Room, helping 48 women choose presents for their children and themselves. They held a meeting February 3, 2020 and chose their delegate for the PSAC Regional Triennial. The committee is now working on IWD plans. Calgary RWC will be holding their AGM in March 2020, on a date that falls after IWD but before March 31, 2020.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge RWC held their first Commemorative Brunch in honour of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 7, 2019 and it was a huge success. They held a meeting and social on January 16/20 where they chose their delegate for the PSAC Regional Triennial. Their AGM is scheduled for March 10, 2020.
Regina RWC
Regina RWC held their AGM on January 16, 2020 and elected their delegate for the PSAC Regional Triennial. They were finalizing getting the donation from the Regional Women’s Conference to Sophia House and completed Project Love Bus. They discussed attending the Women’s March January 18, 2020.
Saskatoon RWC
Saskatoon did a Christmas Family project where locals nominated families. They chose one family from the nominations and did Christmas shopping and gifts for the family. They participated in a PSAC Christmas Social with the Area Council. They held their AGM on January 21, 2020 and selected their delegate for the PSAC Regional Triennial.
With respect to the National Women’s Conference, we had a phenomenal response to the call out for delegates. 182 women applied. But it was disappointing to see many of these promising candidates fail to fully complete the application by answering all the questions asked of them. These questions are in the application for a reason and should not be ignored or answered with monosyllabic responses. I believe RWC’s could play a role in educating those members that identify as women on how to make an impact when filling out these applications. It is something I will be putting to the chairs of the Committees.
PRC Women’s Rep activities:
November 15-17, 2019 PRC Meeting in Regina, SK
November 30, 2019 Rally Against UCP at their AGM in Calgary
January 13, 2020 National Women’s Conference Steering Committee
Teleconference
January 20, 2020 Reviewed 182 applications for delegate status for the
National Women’s Conference with REVP Marianne Hladun
January 30, 2020 PRC teleconference call