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.
Our Issues and Advocacy Committee serves both the community and the club by working to fulfill our club’s mandate to stimulate the interest of members and the community at large in public affairs.
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 April 15: Canadian Defence
On April 15 at 1:00 p.m. Commander of 22 Wing, Colonel Joe Oldford, will brief CFUW North Bay on NORAD for approximately one hour including a Q and A. His briefing will be followed by a private visit to the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence, hosted by 22 Wing, North Bay (approximately one hour).
The museum charges $5 plus tax for the guided tour, but the manager has said they will waive the tax if we pay by cash. Please note that they will be unable to make change, so each member will need to bring exactly $5.
To assist 22 Wing in setting up, Diana Herrington requests that those members who wish to attend RSVP by email to her before April 8: dl.herrington@live.ca. Please note that members are welcome to bring guests. Please advise Diana of any additional people coming.
Colonel Joseph Oldford joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1994 as an Infantry Reservist with the 2nd Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders (Cape Breton). In 2002, he transferred to the Regular Force as an Aerospace Control Officer. Following completion of initial Aerospace Control Officer training, Colonel Oldford was assigned to front line control positions within 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron as a Weapons Director and Senior Director, and in support of the Canadian Army as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller. He has provided a detailed biography.
Pilot Proposal for Leadership Roles for CFUW North Bay 2026-2027
President Heather Chambers at the January 21 general meeting reported that the Alternative Leadership Committee, which has been meeting since the fall, has produced a pilot proposal. Heather sent a copy of the proposal to all members on January 22 with the following message: “I am enclosing a copy of our Pilot Proposal 2026-2027 for our alternative leadership for CFUW North Bay. As I mentioned this will be a test year and then we will reevaluate it. I am asking each of you to take the time to read through the proposal to see how we have divided up the jobs (particularly the President's position) so that they are not too onerous. We each have gifts we can share and as team members we can make the future of CFUW North Bay move forward.” Members have until April to respond to the report.
The committee consists of Nat Brunette, Heli Vail, Marianne Rogers. Brenda Robertson, and Kristen Ferguson.
The proposal is also available on this website.
Bulletin Board for CFUW Members
Please check out our bulletin board for club news by using the orange link below the title. New in February are Brenda Robertson’s suggestion for celebrating International Women's Day and advance notice of the webinar for World Climate Action Day on March 26.
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: March 6, 2026
The books CFUW North Bay donated this year were distributed to three classes of junior and senior kindergarten children on March 6. Nat Brunette and Kristen Ferguson, who are in charge of CFUW North Bay’s Gift of Reading, as well as new member Tina Benevides, distributed and read books to children at St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School in Callander. Kristen reported that the children and teachers were most appreciative.
The photo on the right: Nat, Tina, and Kristen.
More on Archives Committee (Caroline Haist)
The photo on the right includes members participating in a fashion show in 1991 for CFUW North Bay’s 50th anniversary. Three are still members of the club. Heather Chambers identified them: Monica Barker, Anna Petruzella, Marilyn Smith, Heather. Marilyn was Mrs. Centennial and Heather, Mrs. Crimplene.
The archives committee has been hard at work organizing and sorting existing material now in my basement. You can check out our plan and our progress through this link: Archives.
But we need your help. Do you know what happened to photo albums dating from 1991 (our 50th anniversary) to the early 2000s? As you are decluttering as many of us are doing these days, please see if you have anything (roster, program, annual report, poster, photos) that you would be willing to donate to our archives. Email Caroline Haist at carlilh43@gmail.com if you can help.
September 17 General Meeting: Proud to Be Canadian
Diane Wallace, Nat Brunette, and Heather Chambers
Registration: Treasurer Bonnie Roynon with Heli Vail
Diana Herrington and Marianne Rogers with New Member Diane Bourdon (centre)
Discussion Groups on Being Canadian
CFUW North Bay Votes to Support International Project in Zambia.
September 25: Dinner Group at Dave’s Green Papaya
September 26: Breakfast Group at Syl’s
October 15 General Meeting: Canadian Women in Politics
Guest Speaker MP Pauline Rochefort with Diae Wallace and Marianne Rogers
Brenda Robertson with President Heather Chambers
Marilyn Savage, Diana Herrington, and Kristen Ferguson
Janet Poudrier, Heli Vail, Isabel Churcher, and Anna Petruzella
Cher Harvey (right) Thanking Speaker Pauline Rochefort
Diane Wallace and Heli Vail with Treat Bags for Everyone
November 6: Lunch Bunch at 100 Elements at Canadore College
November 19 General Meeting: Retrospective in Canadian Politics
President Heather Chambers with Diane Steward
Bonnie Roynon and Cher Harvey
Kaarina Tulisalo greets former MP and guest speaker Anthony Rota.
Mary Catherine O’Hagan, Sue Fisher, and Anna Petruzella
Pamela McKend thanks speaker Anthony Rota.
December 16: Book Club Lunch at Average Joe’s
December 17: A Canadian Christmas with Potluck Dinner and Concert
Marg Mullan , Cher Harvey, Sue Fisher, and Anna Petruzella
Concert by the North Bay Choral Society
Bell Ringers Marg Mullan, Heather Chambers, and Heli Vail
Terry Campbell, Isabel Churcher, Anna Petruzella, and Sue Fisher
Diana Herrington thanks the North Bay Choral Society.
February 25 General Meeting: Nipissing First Nation History
Speakers Dr. Katrina Srigley and Glenna Beaucage (photo on right)
Lunch Bunch at Average Joe’s on February 5
March 6 Gift of Reading: Nat Brunette, Tina Benevides, and Kristen Ferguson
Slideshow of CFUW North Bay Events of 2025-26
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
Pamela 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 Dave’s Green Papaya
September 27: Sunrise Breakfast at The Home Style Café
October 1: Lunch Bunch at The Urban Café
October 15: General Meeting
Anna Petruzella, Sheila Taylor, and
Marianne Rogeres
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 Nipissing
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
Pamela 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 Pamela 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 on the Craft of Design..
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 on Understanding the Brain
Gift of Reading at Silver Birches Public School on March 20
Kristen Ferguson
Nat Brunette
Bonnie Roynon
April 16: The Art of Fitness 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
Cher Harvey,. Sue Fisher, and Janet Poudrier
Marg Mullan, Hether Chambers, and Anna Petruzella
Heather Chambers, Carolyn Wright, and Sheila Taylor
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
Kaarina Tulisalo, Diane Steward, and Janet Poudrier
Marianne Rogers, Caroline Haist, Nat Brunette, and Brenda Robertson
Carolyn Wright, Marg Green, Heather Stemp, and Wynne Blair
Program Committee Chair Heli Vail
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 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 Nipissoing 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
May 7:Lunch Bunch at Average Joe’s
May 15: AGM at the Motherhouse
Members of the executive prepare treats.
Brenda Robertson and Terry Blair
Executive for 2024-25
June 5: Heritage Gardeners
June 19: Brewery Tour and Year-end Social
Gateway City Brewery
Tour Leader Sully Sullivan
Jeanette Wilmot, Doris Toswell, Diane Steward, and Carolyn Wright
Sheila Taylor, Janet Calcaterra, and Wynne Blair
Mary Catherine O’Hagan and Cher Harvey
Diana Herrington and Bonnie Cappadocia
Marilyn Smith, Anna Peruzella, and Jeanette Wilmot
Marianne Rogers, Joan Barner, and Wynne Blair
Sue Fisher and Bonnie Roynon
Guest Speaker Heather Stemp with Hostess Diane Wallace
Chefs Heli Vail, Diane Wallace, and Heather Chambers
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.