Recognition of JLC Programs and Partners

The Junior League of Calgary's programs and seasonal projects conducted during the 2011-12 program year delivered over 2,700 volunteer hours, impacted over 3,500 youth and supported over 100 families. We were pleased to have many of our community partners join us at the Annual Celebration Dinner on May 28.

JLC Community Partners at the 2011-12 Annual Celebration Dinner

The JLC's program Moms U Matter(MUM) with Highbanks Society - a residential agency that offers a safe home to 16 -24 year-old single mothers and their children while the moms complete high school or a post-secondary program and create a career path - targets the issues of food preparation, meal planning, healthy eating, kitchen safety and food budgeting. We implemented eight MUM sessions between September and May.  

One of the programs under the umbrella of the Children’s Cottage Society is Brenda’s House, a re-housing program with a sheltering component aimed at supporting families toward independence and their own sustainable housing.The Treasure Trunk program targets key issues of nutrition and healthy eating (Kids in the Kitchen), literacy (Kids in the Story), music and movement (Kids in Motion and Music), the arts (Kids in the Arts) and reading to babies (or Babies in the Story).  We implemented twelve sessions of Treasure Trunk between September and May and a training workshop for Children`s Cottage Society and Brenda`s House staff and volunteers

The Fall Provisional Class members implemented our ninth year of Teen Totes providing bags for 350 Calgary teens. The bags were distributed in December through The Alex Youth Health Centre and Calgary Community Resource Centres. 

The Winter Provisional Class members learned about the JLC by implementing the seventh annual Kids in the Kitchen (KITK) event.  With the assistance of Chef Will Kwong and JLC dancers, Dr. Emily Roback and Natalie Wynn-Dempsey KITK inspired children to make healthy food choices and active lifestyle decisions.  The KITK program and tote bags were delivered to 190 grade 3-6 students at Rundle School on May 1.

In March, the JLC participated in Safety Expo demonstrating our kitchen safety booth to over 3,000 grade 4-7 students at this two-day event.

In May, we conducted a Done In A Day (DIAD) for The Alex Youth Health Centre to meet needs of their clients.  Hygiene items, basic clothing items such as socks, undergarments and belts, transit passes and gift cards for food and groceries were donated. 

The Alex Presents Award to the JLC

(L to R): Marie Starich, Susan Deike, Kate Hawksworth,
Marilou Mitchell and Danene Lenstra

Community partners The Alex recently presented the Junior League of Calgary with an award to recognize our "outstanding support" for their organization.

Alice Gardner-Boreta Wraps Up JLC Presidency

2010-2012 JLC President Alice Gardner-Boreta (L)
receives a thank you gift from incoming
 President Lynne Christensen 

The Annual Celebration Dinner on May 28 was the final "official" event of Alice Gardner-Boreta's two-year term as President of the Junior League of Calgary. We thank Alice for her dedication in this role. She has also provided 10 years of committed service to our League and is now a sustaining member, but she won't be idle! The closing of this chapter leads to the opening of another as Alice begins to serve as the newly-elected International Director on The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI)  Board of Directors. Congratulations to Alice on this new challenge.

JLC Bestows Bursary Awards

Two young mothers affiliated with Highbanks Society received Bursary Awards from the Junior League of Calgary at the Annual Celebration Dinner. Rain Wondrasek was awarded a $2000 bursary, and Jasie Mason was awarded a $1000 bursary.

Rain Wondrasek

Rain, a recipient from our inaugural bursary year, continues to attend Mount Royal University. Her educational goal, however, has evolved from becoming a junior high school humanities teacher to becoming a psychologist. She intends to finish her program at Mount Royal University with honours and then plans to continue her studies at Concordia University where she hopes to earn her Ph.D.

Jasie Mason

Jasie’s goal is to start and operate a not-for-profit similar to Highbanks Society to help young mothers establish independence through education and community support. Her first step in reaching her goal will be to upgrade her education by attending Bow Valley College. Jasie then plans to acquire her Bachelors of Business Administration with a minor in non-profit management from Mount Royal University.

To apply, each woman submitted an application outlining her educational, employment, and volunteer history. Two references provided information in support of her application, and the applicant submitted a brief essay on why she should be awarded the JLC Bursary Award. Cecilia de la Rocha, Executive Director of Highbanks Society, Stephanie Schoenberg, Community Coordinator for Highbanks Society, and Bette Mitchell, Founder of Highbanks Society and its Board of Directors President were present for the awards.

JLC May Celebration Slideshow now on YouTube!

The 2011-2012 Roadmap for the Future slideshow presentation that was shown at the 2012 May Celebration dinner has been uploaded to the JLC's YouTube site.  If you were unable to attend the May Celebration (or even if you were there) you will definitely want to watch it.  Here is a link to this wonderful audio/visual overview of the JLC's activities this past year.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ut4zTWhz5s&fmt=18