Provincial Convention 2006: 59th BC/YK Convention

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

Front row L-R: Marilyn VanDongen (Christian Family Life) Doreen Gowans (Secretary) Barb Dowding (Provincial President) Pat Battensby (Past Provincial President) Elaine Audet (Treasurer) Sheila Quinn (Resolutions) Middle Row L-R: Gloria Gausboel (Legislation) Nancy Simms (Education & Health) Carol Penno (Community Life) Marianna Caldwell (Spiritual Development) Rev. Terry Brock (Provincial Spiritual Advisor) Missing is Sandra Stajduhar (Communications) Top Row L-R: Diocesan Presidents Anna May McCarvill (Kamloops) Jeanne Wilson (Whitehorse) Pat Deppiesse (Vancouver) Agnes Geiger (Victoria) Maureen Sander (Prince George) Carol Reiter (Nelson) Whitehorse Yukon – 152 members of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada held their 59th Annual BC & Yukon Provincial Convention in Whitehorse Yukon from June 14th – 18th. Included in attendance where National CWL President Agnes Bedard, BC & Yukon Provincial CWL President Pat Battensby, BC & Yukon Provincial Spiritual Advisor Rev. Terry Brock and Bishop of Whitehorse Gary Gordon.

There were various resolutions brought forward from the Dioceses in BC & Yukon to be considered at this convention. 1. Religious Freedom, 2. Child care support direct to family, 3. Relationship between abortion and breast cancer, 4. Protection of the child re: sexual consents, 5. Discontinue use of Polystyrene disposable ware Styrofoam, 6. Adult stem cell research, 7. Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and 8. Implementation of the Canadian strategy for Cancer Control. If accepted they will continue on in their journey to the next level where the procedure will happen all over again. Those and others from across Canada that are accepted will then be presented by our National representatives and her committee for consideration to the Federal Government of Canada.

A workshop on Human Trafficking was facilitated by Sister Pierete Boise Social Justice co-ordinator, from the congregation of Notre Dame. She told us that trafficking is equal to arms sales and that it is 2nd in the world. According to Sister Boise, Canada has signed the papers to stop trafficking but have done nothing to implement it. Trafficking is buying and selling of humans and it must be stopped. Trafficking is when a person is taken form one place to another and forced into something they don’t want to do.

Attending her last official Provincial Convention as National President, Agnes Bedard spoke to us about her session with WUCWO (World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations). Catholic Women from around the world gather to discuss items of common interest. One of WUCWO’s aims is to have Social Justice around the world.

Rev. Terry Brock introduced to us St. Gianna Molla. She was canonized May 16th 2004. Pope John Paul 11 spoke of her as a “woman of exceptional love, and outstanding wife, and mother. Gianna Molla gave witness in her daily life to the demanding values of the Gospel.” She was canonized in the Year of the Family.

For the BC & Yukon CWL it was an election year. Our new BC & Yukon President is Barb Dowding.

Submitted by Past Provincial Communications Chairperson, Dodie B.