Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Submitted by: Jeanne Wilson

Dear League Sisters and Father Tran,

I hope everyone had a rejuvenating summer and were able to find some sun somewhere.  Fall is definitely here in Yukon.  The leaves are turning, the berries are ripe and the mountain tops are white with fresh snow.

Resolutions:

Three resolutions were passed at the National Convention in Winnipeg under Education and Health:

2008.02 – Restrictions on the Sale of Products Containing Triclosan
2008.03 – Toxic Substances in Household Products
2008.04 – Accurate Food Labelling

Awareness, Prevention and Treatment of Depression, a resolution passed at the B.C. Provincial Convention, was not presented to be voted on as a resolution but has been given to the National Chairperson of Education and Health for further action.

Euthanasia:

I would urge all councils, diocesan and parish to educate their members on this topic. The Keynote Address at the National Convention in Winnipeg was given by Dr. Moira McQueen, Executive Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute; Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Senator Sharon Carstairs.  Their presentations were followed by a workshop on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Nancy Simms

Dear Sisters in the League,

BC Ministry of Education

I recently received the following two emails from the BC Ministry of Education. I encourage you to visit these sites and keep members updated.

1. The Curriculum Implementation Schedule is now available on the curriculum website at:  http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/imp_sched.htm
2. The summary to the needs assessment conducted on the Grades 8-12 Social Studies curriculum is now posted and can be found at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/reports/ss8-12_exec_summary.pdf

I am also enclosing an attachment of Review of Making Space, Giving Voice produced by The Catholic Civil Rights League. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Nancy Simms

Dear Sisters in the League,

I pray everyone had a blessed Christmas! During the Christmas season I received an email from the Ministry of Education regarding new curriculum that is up for review, therefore I am passing it on to you to as per my last communiqué of December 4, 2007.

Dear Colleagues:

The Sustainable Resources 11 and 12 Response Draft (2007) curriculum is currently available for review and response.

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/drafts/welcome.htm

The British Columbia Ministry of Education is interested in receiving feedback on the Sustainable Resources 11 and 12 Response Draft (2007) from education and community partners. Please feel free to share this link with anyone you feel would be interested in providing feedback on the draft document. Feedback can be provided to the Ministry of Education by completing the online Response Survey. This Response survey can be used for either individual or group feedback.

Please complete the Sustainable Resources 11 and 12 Response survey BEFORE February 12, 2008.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES 11 and 12 RESPONSE DRAFT

Waël Afifi

Education Officer
Sustainability Programs Unit
Learning Management Division, BC Ministry of Education

wael.afifi@gov.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 387-4428

I believe by reviewing this curriculum we will be not only understand our education system better, but also be learning about our environment. » Read the rest of this entry »

Submitted by: Nancy Simms

Dear Sisters in the League,

Now that we are into the Advent season it is my prayer that each of us will take time out of our daily busyness to remember the hope, love and joy with which Advent bestows on us.

“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Is. 122

Bioethics: I recently received the below email from our past national president Marie Cameron and found the recommended website to be an excellent source of information on bioethics and the church’s position on these crucial issues.

“This was sent to me from one of my CWL friends and I am forwarding it as I find his articles very informative. Fr. Tad was here in Calgary at St. Mary’s University College this weekend for some seminars. Marie

Fr Tad is a respected and well known US expert ( Ph.D at Yale and post doctoral work at Harvard) on bioethics and an advisor to the American Catholic Bishops. He writes weekly on Bioethics issues. His writing is absolutely consistent with the magisterium of the Catholic Church and is a good source of formation for you and for me on these very topical and important issues That’s why I am sending you his website. Please read some of his articles. They are short and clear. http://www.ncbcenter.org/makingsense.asp

In case you want to know more type Father Tad Pacholczyk into Google.com,  you will get quite a bit to read.” » Read the rest of this entry »

November 15, 2006

The Hon. Shirley Bond
Minister of Education
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Dear Minister Bond,

The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is a national organization rooted in gospel values. One of the eight objects of our League is “to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace, and harmony.”

The settlement agreement between the BC Ministry of Education and two private citizens (Murray Corren and Peter Corren) has given them an unprecedented role in influencing provincial curriculum development in all subjects from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This settlement agreement has the potential to denigrate the legally protected moral and religious beliefs of parents and children.

Therefore the BC & Yukon Provincial Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, representing nearly 9,000 members and their families, urges the BC Ministry of Education to continue in its history of acknowledging religious freedom, social justice, peace, and harmony by allowing parents of children in the public school system the right to educate children in conformity with their moral and religious convictions. This right can be affirmed by allowing parents to use the alternate delivery option in areas of the curriculum that conflict with their moral and religious convictions.

I will be in Victoria for meetings with the Provincial Government on March 28 and I am very much looking forward to that. It would be a good opportunity to meet with you as well should your schedule permit.

Sincerely,

Barbara Dowding
CWL BC/YK Provincial President