Past Events 2021

Memorial Event on Zoom: Shoshanah Saxe | december 6, 2021

meet and greet | november 22, 2021

When the business agenda was finished, members were treated to a welcome reception in the Main Lounge. Delicious hors d’oeuvres were served by the Faculty Club’s wonderful staff, while members reacquainted themselves with old friends and had the opportunity to meet our many new members.

Thanks so much to the terrific Faculty Club team, under the direction of the club’s new Executive Director, Alex Maggiacomo, for making our evening such a great pleasure.

- Jane

Business Meeting | NOVEMBER 22, 2021

The annual Business Meeting was held on November 22 at The Faculty Club as a hybrid meeting with some members attending at The Faculty Club and others joining by Zoom. There were 51 in total in attendance.

Udaya Ratnayake, Vice President and Portfolio Manager BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., provided an update on the club’s investment portfolio and Karen Sparks, Senior Wealth Management Consultant at BMO Nesbitt Burns gave a presentation about philanthropy and tax efficient methods to gifting money to charitable organizations.

Marianne Anderson, Chair of Charitable Giving, spoke about UWC (Toronto) Foundation, the club’s foundation, and encouraged members to make a donation to the foundation by December 31, 2021 to help the foundation attain its 2021 donation goal of $10,000.  Christine Ward, Chair of Scholarships, reviewed the recent scholarships given to post - secondary women students by UWC (Toronto) Foundation.  Susan Le Roy, Treasurer, gave a snapshot of the club’s finances and concluded by encouraging members to be involved in the club.

The members approved a payment of $50,000 from the Club (UWC Toronto) to the Foundation (UWC (Toronto) Foundation) in 2022 to be used for the payment of scholarships.  A payment of $50,000 was approved from the Club to the Foundation in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

After the meeting was adjourned, members enjoyed the Meet & Greet reception.

- Wendy

ZOOM SPEAKER: ELLIN BESSNER | NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Ellin Bessner, "Hidden Heroines: How Canada's Jewish Women Helped Win WWII"

On November 15, 2021, just a few days after Remembrance Day, our Zoom speakers’ series featured journalist, professor, and lecturer, Ellin Bessner, author of Double Threat: Canadian Jews, the Military and WWII. Ellin’s presentation, “Hidden Heroines: How Canada’s Jewish Women Helped Win WWII,” was accompanied by fascinating photographs from the war years as well as videos of women veterans who have provided important oral history accounts about their WWII experiences. Participants in the Zoom meeting were invited by Ellin to talk about their own relatives and friends who contributed to Canada’s war efforts, and it was wonderful to hear the many stories and remembrances recounted by our members.

Ellin’s talk left us with a detailed and moving account of those Canadian Jewish women who, despite prejudice and discrimination, bravely enlisted to serve their country and their faith in World War II.

- Pam

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JANE JACOBS: AN ANNEX TOUR | October 28, 2021

On October 28th, a group (and two happy canines) wandered through the Annex in the path of Jane Jacobs who left New York for Toronto in 1968. She moved to 69 Albany Avenue (the house featured in the photos) in 1971 and became an Annex fixture until her death in 2006. We looked at the architecture, discussed good community development and were so glad the proposed Spadina Expressway never was completed. Jane would have been right at home in our club!

- Marianne

ZOOM SPEAKER: ELISE COLE | OCTOBER 18, 2021

On October 18, our Zoom speakers’ series featured Elise Cole, who spoke on “Why Should You Dig For Your Roots? Delving Into Family History”.  Elise, who is a Special Collections librarian at the Oakville Public Library and who has made genealogical research her area of specialty, is a passionate advocate and sought-after speaker on family history.  

Elise noted that the public’s interest in genealogy as a popular hobby has grown at a great rate over the past few years, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic left people with extra time to devote to personal hobbies and interests.   She reminded us of the many online and library resources available to the genealogical researcher, and gave us tips about how to start a family history project and where to look for help.  Elise’s talk was fascinating and informative, leaving us intrigued about what our own personal family histories might reveal!

OUT & ABOUT : BATA SHOE MUSEUM TOUR | OCTOBER 18, 2021

Who would ever think of designing a building like a shoe box?  Raymond Moriyama did so for the impressive Bata Shoe Museum that opened 26 years ago.  Moira Varmazis was at the opening!  Heather Mitchell, a UWC member, was one of our guides.  She managed to arrange for a draw for free tickets and also provided us with a memento key chain before we left.  The broad overview of the history of shoes from the time of the Ancients to the present day was a good beginning to our tour.  We saw shoes that were teeny tiny, as in the petite shoes that bound the feet of Chinese women or shoes for dolls.  We saw mammoth shoes and boots that were used to advertise a cobbler’s trade before everyone could read.  A very limited selection of notable items included chestnut-crushing clogs with huge jagged spikes, stilettos worn by Marilyn Monroe, and Cinderella slippers in gold and glass. There are about 16, 000 shoes in the collection, many of which are in storage, but changing exhibits provide a good reason to return.  The exhibit All Dolled Up explored the world of dolls, including how they fashion cultural expectations like inclusivity.  Art and Innovation: Traditional Arctic Footwear highlighted the artistry and the ingenuity of the makers.  Several of us followed an enjoyable morning with lunch across the street at the Hotel Saint George.

- Elizabeth Mowat

ZOOM SPEAKER: CAROLYN HARRIS | SEPTEMBER 20th, 2021

Carolyn Harris, "Royal Children From Medieval to Modern Times"

On September 20, 2021, we were pleased to host a Zoom talk by Dr. Carolyn Harris, professor of history at U of T. Carolyn is a well-known expert and commentator on royalty and royal history, and the author of a number of books and articles on the subject, including Raising Royalty – 1000 Years of Royal Parenting. Carolyn spoke to us about how kings and queens throughout history handled the unique challenges and privileges of being a royal parent. She also offered some interesting observations about the modern parenting practices and styles of contemporary royals such as Diana, William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan.

PHOTOGRAPHY WALK - U OF T | SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021

Patio Time | Summer 2021

We’re delighted that so many ladies came out to join us for our 4 Patio Times this summer at L’Espresso Bar Mercurio. Lovely patio, cold drinks, good chats with old friends and new. Happiness is. . . . . 😃

ZOOM SPEAKER: SHELLEY MCKELLAR | AUGUST 9, 2021

Shelley McKellar, "Lady Medicos: Dr. Jennie Kidd Trout and the Audacious Feats of Women in Medicine"

On August 9th we had the pleasure of hosting Professor Shelley McKellar, the Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario, as part of UWC’s Zoom Speakers’ Series. Professor McKellar teaches the history of medicine, the medical profession as well as the history of disease and society, including epidemic outbreaks.

During her talk, Professor McKellar described in vivid detail the amazing lives and daring accomplishments of Dr. Jennie Kidd Trout and Dr. Jessie Gray. Born 70 years before Dr. Jessie Gray, Dr. Jennie Kidd Trout was the first woman to legally practice medicine in Canada, overcoming tremendous adversities and paving the way for many women physicians after her. Similarly, Dr. Jessie Gray, was the first female surgeon in Canada and was considered one of the top cancer surgeons in North America, aiding in the creation of the first cancer detection clinic in Canada. Both Dr. Gray and Dr. Kidd Trout’s achievements and contributions helped break down barriers for women in medicine and continue to inspire generations of women to this day.

On July 12th we had the pleasure of hosting T.M. Glass, a digital artist based in Toronto, as part of UWC’s Zoom Speakers’ Series. Inspired by 17th and 18th century paintings and artists, she uses techniques such as digital painting and collaging to enhance the beauty of her photographs. 

During her talk, The Audible Language of Flowers, she outlined in captivating detail the process that she undertakes to transform 2D portraits of flowers, either from her garden or from other gardens around the world she visits, into beguiling works of art that inspire both curiosity and awe. Each of her paintings captures the essence of a time and a place that, although long gone, continues to live on through carefully placed brushstrokes and digital editing. 

T.M’s talk provided a fascinating look into the world of photography and combining free hand panting with digital editing to create works of mesmerizing beauty that remind us just how much of a role flowers play in making the world that we live in that much more whimsical. 

ZOOM SPEAKER: JEAN TEILLET | JUNE 14, 2021

The Northwest is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People

Jean Teillet, one of Canada’s most distinguished lawyers in the area of aboriginal rights and justice, spoke to us on June 14 as part of UWC’s Zoom Speakers’ Series.  Jean, the great grandniece of Louis Riel, is an authority on the  Métis Nation and the author of “The Northwest is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People”.  For her talk, Jean chose to focus on some of the Métis women who are featured in her book and who have played fascinating roles in the history of their people.  Jean introduced us to women whose stories were sometimes humorous, often tragic, but always inspiring.  Jean is an engaging and thought-provoking speaker, and we were grateful to her for sharing her stories and insights with us. 

Zoom speaker: Suzanne Evans | May 10, 2021

On May 10, we were pleased to present a Zoom talk by Dr. Suzanne Evans, an Ottawa writer and historian and the author of “The Taste of Longing: Ethel Mulvaney and Her Starving Prisoners of War Cookbook”. Suzanne told us the fascinating story of Ethel Mulvaney, an ordinary woman from Manitoulin Island whose life was filled with extraordinary physical, mental, and emotional challenges. Stationed with her husband in Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion in World War II, Ethel was separated from him and imprisoned for several years in notorious Changi Prison as an internee. While there, Ethel helped to lift the spirits of other mistreated and starving women, organizing them to hold imaginary “dinners” of their favourite foods and to write down treasured recipes. Ethel’s story was brought to life with Suzanne’s wonderful collection of photographs, maps, videos, audio clips, music, and songs from the period. Suzanne’s engaging and inspiring talk left us with a lasting impression of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship and suffering.

Spotlight on Us: Earla Burke | April 26, 2021

The April Spotlight on Earla Burke’s memoir Circumstance was well attended.

The questions from the participants were answered with short stories. Question: “Is there one message you hope the reader will receive the most?”, she answered: If you want to achieve anything you have to work for it. There is no magic. If you fail to succeed at school, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you. When I lived at home my bed was the sofa in the living room. There was no place to do homework and my mother kept me home to look after two baby brothers. At age 14 when I arrived in Toronto after failing grade 9 three times, I lived at the YWCA on Elm Street in the basement hostel. It had 4 beds. I had to pack my suitcase every morning before I left for work so the overnight guests didn’t help themselves to my things. The following year at age 15 I was married and moved in with a family of 14. I attended night school for more than 25 years and graduated from three universities.

For more information and where to buy her book, visit: www.earlaburke.com

ZOOM SPEAKER: BRONWYN ROE | APRIL 19, 2021

"Building the Case for a Better Earth: Using the Power of the Law to Fight Climate Change"

We were very pleased to welcome Bronwyn Roe, a lawyer with Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice, to our Zoom Speakers’ Series on April 19.  Bronwyn spoke about Ecojustice’s mission to use the full force of the law to defend nature, combat the climate emergency and fight for a healthy environment for all.  

Bronwyn discussed several of the cases that Ecojustice has taken on, among them the precedent-setting Mathur v. Ontario case, in which Ecojustice is representing seven young climate activists who are challenging the Ontario government’s inaction on climate change. 

Bronwyn’s talk about the fight for a safe and healthy environment was compelling, and reminded us how young people are so often in the vanguard of that fight.   

ZOOM SPEAKER:BETSY MCGREGOR | MARCH 8TH, 2021

ZOOM SPEAKER: JULIAN PORTER AND STEPHEN GRANT | FEBRUARY 22, 2021

"149 Paintings You Really Need to See in North America"

On February 22, UWC Toronto hosted a very well attended and successful Zoom speaker event with Julian Porter and Stephen Grant, authors of "149 Paintings You Really Need to See in North America (So You Can Ignore the Rest)". Porter and Grant, Toronto lawyers who are also both lifelong art enthusiasts, treated Zoom participants to a fascinating online tour of classical and modern masterpieces in major North American museums and galleries. The program highlighted 20 of the many paintings included in Porter and Grant's book. Beautifully reproduced slides of each of the paintings were accompanied by commentary that was lively and entertaining, as well as thought provoking. . It was a treat to visit great museums and galleries again, if only virtually; the talk inspired us all to look forward to the day we can once again visit in person.

Click here if you would like a copy of the list of paintings covered in the Zoom talk.

SPOTLIGHT ON US: JUDITH LEWIS | JANUARY 25, 2021

Past President of UWC and second generation member, Judith Lewis shared the inside scoop on the historical roots of our club. It was a lot of fun and a wonderful chance to stay connected.

brian levine | JANUARY 18, 2021

2021 Past Events

lunatic, a film by ian evans| January 11, 2021