The Canadian Women’s Club of Jamaica is putting on its ‘Spring into Fashion’ gala show for Mother’s Day (May 11) at the AC Marriott in New Kingston.

It’s cocktails at 5:00 pm and the fashion show at 6:00 pm.

The Canadian Women’s Club (CWC) of Jamaica — a tight-knit non-profit organisation, comprised of Canadian women living in Jamaica and non-Canadians endeared to the group’s mission — has been making a difference in the lives of under-served Jamaicans for over 60 years.

Each year, the group undertakes to fund several projects that improve the lives of children, the elderly, the disabled and their families. These projects are funded by two major fundraisers, the ‘Harvest Fair’ in October and the ‘Spring Into Fashion Show’ in May. 

Tomorrow, under the patronage of Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman and his wife, club president Alison Berman, the Canadian Women’s Club of Jamaica will host the 14th spring fashion fundraising event.

Admission is $5,000, and tickets can be purchased from Music Mart and at the Cannonball Cafés in Sovereign North, Manor Park and New Kingston and from members of the CWC. 

During the organisation’s fiscal year that ends in June, the CWC has supported 18 initiatives across the island.

Here’s a snapshot of what this influential club has been up to for just under the past two years:

1.   2024 Focus on the YWCA skills training programmes

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation established in Jamaica in 1923 and affiliated with the world YWCA in 1930. Its mission is to empower individuals and communities through vocational and life skills training that facilitates personal development. The major project for Spring Into Fashion 2024 was to provide the YWCA on Arnold Road with items to enhance their skills training courses. Proceeds from this show were used to furnish the association with much-needed materials such as computers, cooking, food and nutrition, and barbering equipment. Following repairs to the kitchen, we were finally able to install a large industrial cooking stove, a special hair-dressing chair, basins, manicuring items and barbering equipment for cosmetology, and two computers for training in computer skills. Finally, we also helped the YWCA with ice cream and a large sheet cake for over 50 children at their community party. 

2.    Caymanas Basic School: Children were given a Christmas party with each child given a Christmas Stocking full of toys. Extra toys and learning equipment were also presented to the school. The school has installed the doors at the back of the school and wired the heavy mesh into place to keep out rats and mongoose). 

3.    Cockpit Basic School: a new stove was properly installed in the kitchen, the old drumwas removed, following the extra plumbing with two toilets and a new sink being installed, the bathroom was tiled. The moveable room divider was installed, the interior of the school was repainted, and a filing cabinet with folders and extra paper was presented. The children at the school were given a small Christmas party

4.    Kintyre Basic School: Donated a large water tank placed on roof to ensure adequate water supply for both kitchen and toilets areas; organised plumbing for bathrooms and sinks, painted outside areas, repaired and tidied up playground. (donated a cake for the kindergarten graduating class). 

5.    Padmore Basic School: CWC donated the cement to pour for a roof covering the lower part of the school creating new classrooms and a bathroom. The principal is thrilled with the outcome but now has a list of other necessary items, such as handrails for the steps, windows, bathroom fittings etc. The school painted the new floor with special cement paint. The CWC donated cupcakes and juices for over 50 children and included extra candy canes along with an assortment of toys suitable for children 6 to 10 years for the principal to give to children who were needy.

6.    Paradise Basic School: Toilets were installed in the four bathrooms, easy-opening doors were installed and the rooms tiled and painted. The sink for handwashing was repaired and placed on a stand for the children to reach the water. The CWC presented the 30 children with cupcakes and juices and gave each child a Christmas stocking filed with a colouring book, crayons, a ball, bottles for blowing bubbles and a gender/age suitable toy. When the children were collected by their parents, they were each given a bad of sweets to take home to their familes.

7.    Westphalia Basic School. Westphalia Infant and Primary School: The principal, Mrs. Sylvia Walker, along with teacher, Ms Jessica Douglas, brought eight young children to the Hope Gardens. She stated that of all the letters she had sent out asking for help for the school, the only reply she received was from the CWC. We were able to give the school was given a 32” TV, a desktop computer, and a printer (with extra ink). Three very young students gave a vote of thanks and members of the CWC were presented with baskets of produce grown by the parents of the Westphalia community. Mrs. Walker said she did not know how else she could thank us!

8.    St Martin De Porres: CWC partnered with another patron to put rails down the side of a steep path consisting of two flights of stairs with 75feet of walkway. This was done to prevent fall by the very young children who had to walk up and down the path each day.

9.    St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre: Required office equipment, such as file folders, computer paper, scotch tape, staplers, etc. were donated to the office. The Centre was also given extra items to help students such as exercise books, rulers, glue, pencils, pens, and erasers.

10.  University Hospital Services for Children: Paediatric Centre: Donation of playground equipment and outdoor seating area. The cement table and benches (similar to those we gave to the A&E a few years ago) for the outdoor area. Playground equipment consisting of swings and slides was installed for the playground.

11.Jubilee Hospital: Recliner chairs for nursing mothers, an electric kettle for the nurses, neonate hats, baby cleaning wipes and baby wash cloths, a wonderful array of clothes for new-borns and beautifully soft receivers.

12.Glenhope Place of Safety: A wide selection of beautifully sewn dresses and outfits sized from 1 year to 3 years, blankets for the cribs and cots.  

13.Mary’s Child: The CWC organised sorrel and cupcakes for each young lady and they also received special care packages and special hand-sewn outfits for their babies and crib blankets. In February, the girls were treated to a performance of Aladdin.

14.St. Monica’s Home: Dozen beautifully knit lap blankets. 

15.STEP Centre: A laptop computer gratefully accepted by Hilary Sherlock, Founder and Director. 

16.St Patrick Students from Kingston , Ontario. These 18 teen aged students gave up their Spring Break to come to Jamaica to work (paint houses, schools, actually help build a home.) They certainly enjoyed the pool and the supper: a variety of Jamaican (Rasta pasta and plantain, Otaheite apples) and Canadian (bar-b-q chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, salad0 and coconut ice cream and brownies. The teens brought the CWC a suitcase full of particularly useful school supplies that shall be distributed to different schools according to needs. The young people were delightful guests, very polite and very happy to be here. We finished the evening by singing “O Canada” at the tops of our voices. Again, thanks to all members who attended the supper and mingled with the students and supervisors. 

17.Verley Home: It is to be noted that the home was remembered again with special biscuits given to the Matron for all the ladies to enjoy. On Feb 14, the ladies were treated to a Bingo morning. 

18.Treasure Beach. Beryl devastated the area. CWC members collected eight large boxes of  clothes, bedding, personal and other necessary items to help the residents. 

This year, its major project is to help in the accreditation of the Riverton Meadows Early Childhood Centre. It is registered with the EEC and only needs four bathrooms, some fencing and roof repairs before this can be accomplished.  

Speaking with Our Today, Rose Tavares-Finson of the Canadian Women’s Club of Jamaica said: “This spring into fashion fundraiser is one of our many avenues in gathering initiative and much-needed awareness into our outreach programme diligently run by Beth Hyde and Karen Smith, along with president Dr Barbara Matalon.

“We added a silent auction this year to hopefully boost out efforts in generating more funds. Let’s see how it goes !  Join us and meet Sherry Darosa & Marlene Fulford at the table. I will be there, of course, to meet you and make sure you are well looked after with good seats to watch the show, including compere Joan McDonald.

“We are excited for our upcoming projects that will be highlighting the founding members some who are still active with the 60-year-old club. We are revamping the fundraising events to include resurrecting the wine and food pairing soiree that was launched on IWD, March 8th 2020, that coincided with the world shutting down due to COVID-19, rooftop brunches with shows and auction included. There is also
our popular Harvest fairs to include new surprises.”

“There is a strong bond between Jamaica and Canada that we plan to hopefully  grow and enhance relationships for  a lifetime.”