Family Resource Centre
It was a great turn out on March 8th for our International Women’s Day celebration!
Staff had a lovely time pampering the mothers and caregivers with some home-spa care and beauty activities.
Afterwards, we all enjoyed some delicious food with a potluck feast!
It was wonderful to see everybody having a great time. Thank you so much for coming out to laugh and enjoy yourselves. You deserve it!
HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT JOINING, DEADLINE COULD BE EXTENDED
If you are passionate about strengthening families and making a difference in the Parkdale community, consider supporting the Creating Together Family Resource Centre by joining our team as a volunteer member of our Board of Directors.
The Membership and Board Development Committee is currently accepting applications from individuals interested in being recommended at our spring 2018 Annual General Meeting.
All board members must be:
Preference is given to individuals who use or have used our services in the past. Previous experience with Boards and non-profit organizations is an asset, however, it it not required.
The Board of Directors consists of 9 members drawn from various segments of the community. A variety of backgrounds, skill sets and perspectives are valued. The term of office is 1-2 years.
Board meetings are held monthly (excluding August and December), usually the third Wednesday at 7:30pm, although this is negotiable. Board members also participate in board committees and are involved in periodic strategic planning sessions and community events.
To apply, please complete submit a cover letter and current resume to creatingtogether@rogers.com
The deadline to receive applications is 11:59 pm on Sunday April 15, 2018, however, if you are really passionate about joining, dedline could be extended.
Interviews will be held and selected prior to the Annual General Meeting, at which successful applicants will be voted in.
Each year, the team at Creating Together puts on a special day for the women of our community, for International Women’s Day (IWD).
We hope do see you there!
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. (https://www.internationalwomensday.com)
We can trace the beginnings of International Women’s Day back to labour movements in North America and Europe in the early twentieth century, with a growing force for women to take part as equals in society. The first International Women’s Day was observed on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. That day, more than one million women and men showed their support by participating in public events. In the years that followed, other countries began to observe and celebrate this day. The United Nations began celebrating IWD in 1975, later adopting March 8 as the official International Women’s Day.
Each year, IWD carries a different theme, and this year, the theme is Feminism. According to the Government of Canada, “Feminism is simply about equality – equality for women, men and people of all gender identities. Achieving gender equality means that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.” (http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/iwd-jif/theme-en.html).
This year’s theme, #MyFeminism, is inspired by the role feminism and celebrates the feminists, activists, advocates and allies to lead the way to global change.
Other Ways to Get InvolvedHere are ten ideas from “The Status of Women Canada” for how you can celebrate International Women’s Day:
Incorporated in 1976 as a non-profit charitable organization, Creating Together actually began well before that. Parkdale parents and agency workers were concerned about the lack of resources for children and families, so organized a series of short-term projects.
Now, over 40 years later, Creating Together is honoured to continue being such an active and involved part of the South-Parkdale community. In 2015 alone, 13,211 visits were made!
We remember our beginnings, which came from real need within our community. We also celebrate our successes, each year, our annual Family Day potluck is a priority. This year, our annual potluck was a great success. We had a huge variety of dishes, making for a wonderful feast.
Thank you so much to all the children, family members and caregivers who came out with dishes and such festive energy. Remember – we are here because of you!
Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.
With a different theme selected each year, this year’s theme is “Black Canadian Women: Stories of Strength, Courage and Vision.”
For the City of Toronto and our Parkdale community, this theme is highly relevant, and certainly worth celebrating.
Did you know that Toronto is where many Black Canadian Women call home, with 62% of women who identify as visible minorities being located in either Toronto or Vancouver (YMCA Canada, 2001)? If we narrow that scope to look at our own community, black-identified individuals represent our 2nd highest visible minority group in South Parkdale (City of Toronto, 2011), according to the 2011 Census.
Perhaps that’s why the Parkdale branch of the Toronto Public Library holds the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection, recognized as one of the most significant Black and Caribbean heritage collections in Canada. The collection features over 16,000 print and audiovisual materials for adults, children, and teens about the Black and Caribbean historical and cultural experience.
At Creating Together, we celebrated the month with a Black History Snack. Children came together with their parents and caregivers to prepare, cook and enjoy the snack, and a wonderful time was had by all!
