Welcome to the CFUW North Bay Website
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Members of CFUW North Bay at the September 2025 General Meeting Dressed for the Year’s Theme: The Maple Leaf Forever
Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW)
CFUW North Bay is a member of the Canadian Federation of University Women. CFUW is a non-partisan, voluntary, self-funded organization with 94 clubs, located in every province across Canada. Since its founding in 1919, CFUW has been working to improve the status of women, and to promote human rights, public education, social justice, and peace.
In February 2024 CFUW released a Power Point presentation by CFUW National VP of Membership meant as an overview of CFUW for new members, but of benefit to all members. You can access the slides by pressing/clicking on this link: An Introduction to CFUW.
In January 2024 CFUW national office sent out a press release announcing a new brand and website.
CFUW North Bay
CFUW North Bay holds monthly meetings, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, where we listen to inspiring guest speakers, socialize, and have fun. For specific details check out our program for 2025-26. Socializing also happens in our interest groups. Click on the Interest Groups tab to find information about our book club, bridge group, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner groups. If you scroll down to the slideshow for 2023-24, you will see photos of activities showing both the serious side of our club and the fun we have throughout the year.
By clicking on the Scholarships tab at the top of the page, you can find information about how our club has accomplished one of its main purposes: raising money for scholarships for women to pursue higher education. By clicking on the Community Service tab, you will read how we service the community in other ways.
If you click on the Information for Members tab, you will find our registration form and current membership fee. Membership in our club is open to any woman who aspires to the goals of CFUW. You will also find our current program there listing guest speakers and their topics.
As well as this website, we also have a Facebook page featuring many of our activities and photos and managed for us by Kristen Ferguson, our membership chair: www.facebook.com/CFUWNorthBay.
Founded in 1941, our club celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2021. As you explore this website you will find details and photos describing our celebrations of this and other important anniversaries.
If you are not a member of CFUW North Bay and would like to receive more information about our club, send us an email: cfuwnorthbay@gmail.com.
General Meeting November 19
Our next general meeting on Wednesday, November 19, will again take place at the Motherhouse at 2025 Main Street West and on Zoom. Members are encouraged to arrive at 6:30 p.m. for a half hour of socializing. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. with the guest speaker followed by the business meeting.
The November’s meeting’s topic is Retrospective in Canadian Politics, so our club is fortunate to have as our guest speaker former Liberal MP for many years, Anthony Rota.
Born and raised in North Bay Mr. Rota he attended Wilfrid Laurier University, Algonquin College, and the University of Ottawa. Throughout his years of service he has been a local municipal councillor, a university lecturer, Federal MP and Speaker of the House of Commons. As Speaker his team kept the government operating through the COVID-19 shut down with spaced seating and new technology, Zoom.
He engaged in committees and with caucus and travelled abroad, all to better work within our government for Canada's prosperity.
Bulletin Board for CFUW Members
Please check out our bulletin board for club news by using the orange link below the title. New in September is a link to the CFUW Fall Advocacy Newsletter.
Also of course please share your news. This could include the work your committee is doing, plans for fundraisers, information about CFUW National and/or Ontario Council meetings, announcements about webinars advertised in Club Action Newsletters, or anything else that used to be in our newsletters or that you think our members should know. If you have news to share, email Caroline Haist (carlilh43@gmail.com).
Members, did you know that each month you can access a list proving information about interest group activities? Check out the details here.
The Gift of Reading
Nat Brunette and Kristen Ferguson, who are in charge of CFUW North Bay’s Gift of Reading, need members to help raise money to purchase a large number of books for March 2026.
During the first week in March, to celebrate International Women's Day, CFUW North Bay, along with other CFUW clubs, have participated since 2000 in The Gift of Reading. Doris Toswell started the event for our club in 2000 and organized it until 2017, when Nat Brunette and Kristen Ferguson took over.
Volunteers from the club choose a different kindergarten class in the district each year, visit the class, and distribute one book for every pupil to take home. They then stay to read and discuss the books with the children. These books are all purchased and donated by individual CFUW North Bay members, and schools in both the public and separate school systems are the beneficiaries. The photo above shows kindergarten children from Silver Birches Public School holding their books in March 2025.
This year Nat and Kristen will be going to St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School in Callander in March 2026. This school has three classes of junior and senior kindergarten children, so a large number of books are needed. Last year, many members simply transferred or donated money to the cause rather than trying to find suitable books themselves, and this allowed Nat and Kristen to buy appropriate books as they saw them on sale. They hope members continue to donate generously this year as well. They are encouraged to contact Nat or Kristen to find out how they can donate.
CFUW National’s International Service Project in Zambia
CFUW North Bay voted at the October general meeting to support CFUW’s two-year International Service Project with a one-time $400 donation from general funds. The poster below and the following link provide more information about the project: https://www.cfuw.org/international-service-project-fundraising/.
Photos of the October General Meeting: Canadian Women in Politics
Photos — top middle: members greet our guest speaker Liberal MP Pauline Rochefort.
Middle right: Cher Harvey of the program committee thanks Pauline.
Bottom right: Heli Vail presents treat bags to Diane Wallace. Heli provided bags for all members
Photos of the September General Meeting: Proud to Be Canadian
Photos - top left: Program Chair Diana Herrington chats with new member Diane Bourdon (centre) and Marianne Rogers.
Top middle: Treasurer Bonnie Roynon with speaker Heli Vail. Top left, middle right and centre: groups discuss what it means to be Canadian.
Middle right and bottom left: members enjoy treats provided by members of the executive.
Bottom right: members showing they are proud Canadians.
Slideshow of CFUW North Bay Events of 2024-25
The slide show is no longer automatic. Move through it by using the arrows or swipe if using a phone or tablet.
September Display at the North Bay Public Library
Pam McKend, Kaarina Tulisalo, and Catherine Whiting
September 18 General Meeting
New Member Heather Stemp with Bonnie Roynon and Marg Mullan
Membership Chair Kristen Ferguson (seated on right) collects membership forms and fees.
Speaker Dr. Sandra Reid on The Art of Singing
September 24 Book Club
September 26: Dinner Group at The Green Papaya
September 27: Sunrise Breakfast at The Home Style Café
October 1: Lunch Bunch at The Urban Café
October 15: General Meeting
Diana Herrington introduces speaker Dennis Chippa.
Topic: The Art of Surviving
November 13: Creating Christmas Urns at Burrows
November 20: General Meeting
Bonnie Roynon collects gifts for Transition House.
Brenda Robertson collects donations for Montessori school in Tanzania.
Speakers Amanda Savage and Paula Loranger from The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority on The Art of Preserving the Environment
Pam McKend thanks speakers.
December 3: Lunch Bunch at The Urban Café
December 3: Nat Brunette works on CFUW display at North Bay Museum
Museum Committee: Nat Brunette (at front), Kaarina Tulisalo (seated), and Caroline Haist, Anna Petruzella, and Pam McKend (standing)
December 4: Charitable Trust Dinner at Average Joe’s
Guest Speaker Charlene Gravelle, Acting Executive Director of Nipissing Transition House with Bonnie Roynon and Marianne Rogers
Diane Wallace and Diana MacNeil with Speaker
December 11: Pot Luck Dinner and Christmas Card Workshop
Marianne Rogers and Cher Harvey
Marilyn Savage
Cher Harvey (right) introduces Christine Bretherick, speaker..
CFUW North Bay and guests listen to Senator McCallum.
January 31: Sunrise
Breakfast at Fifty’s Diner
February 19 General Meeting
Speaker: Dr. Andrew Weeks
Gift of Reading at Silver Birches Public School on March 20
Kristen Ferguson
Nat Brunette
Bonnie Roynon
April 16: Chair Yoga Class
Instructor Vicky Giesler from Grounded Studio
April 25: Sunrise Breakfast at Ivan’s
May 6: Lunch Bunch at Urban Café
May 21: AGM at
Motherhouse and on Zoom
Sheila Taylor (centre) with 55-Year Certificate of Recognition.
Thanking Nat Brunette for Her Service as President
May 27: Book Club at Heli Vail’s
May 28: Heritage Gardeners at the Waterfront
June 17: Book Club Lunch and Book Selection Meeting at Average Joe’s
June 18: Members arrive for the year-end social at home of Cher Harvey.
Bonnie Roynon, Diana Herrington, and Mary Catherine O’Hagan
Cher Harvey welcomes members to her home.
Baytones
Dinner from Cecil’s Served by Program Committee Members
Program Committee Chair Heli Vail
September Display at North Bay Public Library: Catherine Whiting and Kaarina Tulisalo
September 22 General Meeting: Speaker Sergeant Vince Corrente on Protecting Yourself Against Fraud
October 18: Tour of The Village at Canadore College
Kristen Ferguson Introduces Tour Leader Micheline Demers
October 22 Group Photo
October 24: Book Club on Zoom
November 7: Lunch Bunch at The Block
General Meeting November 15: Speaker Haley Massicotte on Her Business Oak & Willow
Kristen Ferguson Thanking Haley
November 22: Making Seasonal Urns at Burrows
December 4: Charitable Trust Dinner at Average Joe’s
Speaker Lindsay Keats: Women in Engineering
December 12 Book Club Lunch at The Block
Brenda Robertson with Photos of Tanzanian Montessori School
President Bonnie Roynon with Donation Box for Transition House
January 12: Heritage Gardeners Meet for Coffee
January 17 Speaker Doug Brisbois on Zoom on The Film Industry in Northern Ontario
February 20 Meeting Speaker Dr Mary Pat Sullivan
Dr.Sullivan’s Website for Providing Support for Rare Dementia
URL: https://raredementiasupport.ca
February 24: CFUW North Bay Raises over $900 for The Gathering Place
Organizer Kaarina Tulisalo (left) with Natalie Legresley
Gift of Reading March March 5 at St. Alexander’s Kindergarten Class
Children’s Thank-You Cards
Dr. Diana WaltonScholarship Winner Aurora Buckley with Nat Brunette at Nipissing University Donor Social in March
April 17 Lunch and Learn Speaker Sarah McGowan
Topic: Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay
Lunch Bunch at Average Joe’s on May 7
AGM May 15 at the Motherhouse
Members of the Executive Prepare Treats
Executive for 2024-25
Heritage Gardeners June 5
June 19: Brewery Tour and Year-end Social
Gateway City Brewery
Tour Leader Sully Sullivan
Guest Speaker Heather Stemp with Hostess Diane Wallace
Slideshow of CFUW North Bay Events of 2023-24
The slide show is no longer automatic. Move through it by using the arrows or swipe if using a phone or tablet.
Slideshow of CFUW North Bay 2022-23 Events
This slideshow is still available through this link: Slideshow of 2022-23 Events.
