New! Recordings of Zoom Guest Speakers!

 

Program for 2025-2026

We have an exciting program of guest speakers, with both day and evening sessions!
All are welcome to join us for any of these sessions, at no charge.

We are grateful to meet on the traditional unceded, unsurrendered territory
of the Anishinabe Omàmìwininì/Algonquin Nation
whose presence on this land goes back thousands of years.

General Meetings

General meetings for September-December and April-May will take place in person,  
unless otherwise determined by Ottawa Public Health.
Presentations will be from 1:00-2:00 P.M., followed by socializing, coffee/tea and treats. Remember to lug a mug!
Meeting times and location: Tuesdays from 1:00-3:00 P.M., Bells Corners United Church,
3955 Old Richmond Road at Moodie Drive, unless otherwise specified.
General meetings for January-March will take place on Zoom.
Invitations to Zoom meetings will be sent a few days in advance of each meeting.

September 9, 2025 1-3 P.M., in person	Open House – Bring a Friend – All Women Welcome! Our first meeting will be an Open House to welcome our members back and welcome guests. We encourage you to “Bring a Friend” to introduce them to CFUW Nepean. The big draw will our speaker, well known local author Charlotte Gray, and a relaxed atmosphere with food and conversation. Charlotte will be present before the meeting from 12:00 to 1:00PM to autograph and sell her books Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons at $25 and Massey Murders at $10. Cash and cheques will be accepted. We are planning a Trivia Quiz based on Canadian authors – do brush up on your knowledge!! There will be a table set up  between 12:00 and 1:00PM where you can complete your 2025-2026 Membership and Interest Group sign up. Annual fees are $110.00 for full members and $40.00 for dual members. We encourage you to donate to our Scholarship Trust if you have not already done so online. Charlotte Gray will speak about her book “Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons”. It is a captivating dual biography of two famous women whose sons would change the course of the 20th century. Sara Delano (later to become the mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and Jennie Jerome (later to become the mother of Winston Churchill) refused to settle into predictable, sheltered lives as little-known wives to prominent men. Instead, both women concentrated their energies on enabling their sons to reach the epicenter of political power on two continents.
October 7, 2025 1-3 P.M., in person	Marion Martell, retired nurse, will speak about heart health for women and how it is different from men’s heart health.  She will discuss risk factors, prevention strategies and communication with healthcare providers.  Marion is the Program Ambassador and a volunteer for the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.  She has past experience leading the Women@Heart Peer Support. Program.  She will provide a short questionnaire.
November 4, 2026 1-3 P.M., in person	Geriatric Psychiatrist Dr Tim Lau from the Royal Ottawa Hospital will discuss the difference between Joy and Happiness. How can you improve your joy? How do joy and social interaction keep you living longer?
December 2, 2025 11:30 A.M., location TBD	Holiday lunch at a location to be determined. Feel free to wear your holiday hats and sweaters.  We will be playing games such as Trivial Pursuit and You Be the Judge, and have a delicious meal. Price will be about $40.
January 6, 2026 1-3 P.M. on Zoom	Carleton University Inuit Liaison Franco Buscemi will discuss Inuit life.
February 3, 2026 1-3 P.M. on Zoom	Gord Larose will discuss the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
March 3, 2026 1-3 P.M., in person	Historian James Powell will discuss the legacy of the first woman senator, Cairine Mackay Wilson. NOTE: If the weather is inclement, this meeting will be held on Zoom.
April 7, 2026 1-3 P.M., in person	Author Rosemary Doyle-Marier will discuss her book “The Spanish Note,” and the difficulties that she had in getting it published. After the talk, discussion of the resolutions will be held. Results will be presented to CFUW National.
May 5, 2026 11:30 A.M., location TBD	Annual General Meeting (AGM) luncheon at a location to be determined. A play by Marlene Sylvester will be presented.

 

Evening Speaker Series, Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 P.M on Zoom

Invitations to Zoom meetings will be sent a few days in advance of each meeting.

September 18, 2025 7-8 P.M on Zoom	Karin Wells will speak about her book “Women Who Woke up the Law”.
November 13, 2025 7-8 P.M. on Zoom	Dr. Vicki Mowat from Sheridan College will first discuss the life and legacy of her mother Mary Kathryn Mowat.  Dr Mowat, Dean of Sheridan College, will also discuss the problems that colleges are facing today such as reduced funding from 86% down to 26%, tuition freezes, and fewer foreign students who paid higher tuition fees.
January 15, 2026 7-8 P.M. on Zoom	Jo-Ann Oosterman will discuss her book “Tom’s Story”, about the time that she befriended a homeless man.

 

Past Special Events