INITIATIVES


BURSARIES

Although the Toronto Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW Toronto) had awarded bursaries over the years, the present program was inaugurated in 1976.

The award was to be presented to a woman who: lives in the City of Toronto, is re-entering into higher educational facilities to update her skills to allow advancement in her choice of endeavour, requires financial assistance, and is a single parent.

Over the years BPW Toronto had members who contributed, not only to the club, but also to the community at large. The bursaries are awarded to a woman who meets the above criteria and who are students in the following: law, engineering, education, nursing, and business. The bursary is offered directly to one of the areas mentioned above for a student who meets the specified criteria.

This club year, the Toronto Business and Professional Women’s Club donated $30,000 to the University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. The goal of this new program is to provide a comprehensive grounding in leadership skills, financial and human resources management and research and quality improvement in social service organizations.

An additional bonus is that a matching amount of funds ($30,000) from money provided by the Ontario government to double donations to the University so the Veira Simmonds (Toronto BPW) Bursary Fund would have $60,000 to assist women in business knowledge.

Applicants must have a Master’s of Social Work or master’s degree in a related social service field and at least five years experience in the social services. It is a one year program or two years on a part time basis. The diploma can also be completed as a specialization in the Faculty’s MSW program. Course content will emphasize management and administration skills to provide graduates with both the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to move into any supervisory, management or leadership role.


2011-2012 INITIATIVES

Aside from the bursary details above, two more bursaries were awarded, one to the Canadian Women for the Women of Afghanistan and one to Sistering who are now offering bursaries to a person to update their skills in a field where they could find a job.


RESOLUTIONS

BPW Toronto lobbies for change in law and practice that will achieve economic equity and economic security for women, and to work for change in attitudes that will bring about equality of opportunity for women in education, employment, and participation in public and political roles.

The Club has a very active Resolutions Committee that:

• Educates members on the process of resolution development that align within the BPW mandate
• Trains on parliamentary and debate procedures
• Submits resolutions to the governing bodies within the BPW organization
• Participates with representation and protocol of resolutions at provincial, national and international forums
• Presents briefs to applicable municipal, provincial, federal governments and to the United Nations once resolutions are debated and passed.