Cowichan Women's Business Network

09/04/2026

We met with Sonia Furstenau and Maeve Mcguire today at the Duncan Garage Cafe and Bakery to talk about next week’s event on women in politics!

These two incredibly inspiring women are coming to answer our questions, share about their experiences, and give us hope ♥️

Tickets are on sale now 👉🏾 cwbn.ca

09/04/2026

💜 GIVING BACK 💜

At every CWBN event, we’re proud to use the strength of our network to support organizations doing important work right here in our community.

This September, we’re supporting Cowichan Women Against Violence (CWAV).

They’re currently in need of:

🧥 Waterproof jackets & raincoats
☔ Umbrellas
🛏️ Pyjamas (XS–XL)
👖 Sweatpants & leggings (XS–XL)
🧶 Toques
🛁 Bath towels, facecloths, tea towels & dishcloths
🧦 New, packaged socks & underwear (XS–XL)

Bring your donations along to The Power of Our Voice: Women in Politics on September 17.

You can also support CWAV by joining in our 50/50 draw that evening.

Women supporting women. Community supporting community. 💜

CowichanValley DuncanBC CommunitySupportingCommunity GiveBack SupportLocal WomenInBusiness CommunityMatters

09/03/2026

SHE SPOKE UP: Mary Two-Axe Earley 🇨🇦

History is rarely as tidy as we were taught.

While women were breaking barriers in Canadian politics, many Indigenous women were still fighting laws that treated them differently not only because they were women, but because they were Indigenous.

Mary Two-Axe Earley was a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) woman from Kahnawà:ke.

Under Canada’s Indian Act, a First Nations man with status could marry a non-status woman and keep his status.

A First Nations woman who married a non-status man could lose hers.

Her connection to her community, her property rights and even her ability to be buried with her ancestors could be affected.

Mary decided that wasn’t acceptable.

Beginning in the 1960s, she wrote letters. She organized. She spoke publicly. She built alliances. And she kept going for roughly two decades.

In 1985, Parliament amended the Indian Act, removing this particular form of s*x discrimination and restoring status to thousands of First Nations women and their children.

Mary Two-Axe Earley’s story reminds us of something incredibly important:

When we say “women gained rights,” we should always ask:

Which women?
When?
And who was still being left behind?

Political literacy isn’t only understanding how government works.

It’s learning to ask better questions about who our systems work for.

CanadianHistory YourVoiceMatters

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

SHE SPOKE UP: Agnes Macphail 🇨🇦

Women fought for a voice.

And then Agnes Macphail walked through the door.

In 1921, a 31-year-old rural schoolteacher from Ontario became the first woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons.

One woman.

In a House filled with men.

And she stayed for nearly two decades.

Macphail didn’t spend those years quietly celebrating the fact that she’d made it into the room. She used her seat.

She advocated for prison reform, social welfare, disarmament and the rights of ordinary working people. Later, as a member of Ontario’s legislature, she introduced the province’s first equal-pay legislation.

Being first mattered.

But what she did once she got there mattered even more.

There’s something we love about that lesson.

Representation isn’t simply about seeing a woman sitting at the table.

It’s about women bringing their experiences, questions, priorities and perspectives to the decisions being made there.

Politics affects our businesses.
Our families.
Our neighbourhoods.
Our schools.
Our streets.
Our taxes.
Our communities.

We belong in those conversations.

Agnes took her seat in 1921.

More than a century later, what will we do with ours?

WomenInLeadership YourVoiceMatters

09/01/2026

SHE SPOKE UP: Nellie McClung 🇨🇦

Imagine being told that the decisions affecting your family, your community and your country simply weren’t yours to make.

Nellie McClung wasn’t particularly interested in accepting that.

An author, speaker, activist and politician, McClung became one of Canada’s best-known advocates for women’s suffrage. Later, she joined Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby in what became known as the Famous Five.

Their question seems almost unbelievable today:

Did the word “persons” in Canada’s Constitution include women when it came to appointments to the Senate?

In 1928, the Supreme Court of Canada said no.

They kept going.

In 1929, that decision was overturned, clearing the way for women to be appointed to Canada’s Senate.

Progress didn’t happen because everyone suddenly agreed.

It happened because women kept asking questions, challenging systems and refusing to be excluded from the conversation.

That’s where we’re beginning our SHE SPOKE UP series, as we look ahead to our September CWBN event and explore the women who helped change our political world.

Because understanding politics isn’t about knowing everything.

Sometimes it starts with simply believing you belong in the conversation.

What did she change?
What can we learn from her?
What will we do with the voice we have now?

CanadianWomen YourVoiceMatters

08/31/2026

🎟️ TICKETS ARE ON SALE!

Your voice matters. Your values matter. And understanding how they connect to politics matters, too.

Join us September 17 for The Power of Our Voice: Women in Politics — an approachable, non-partisan conversation with Sonia Furstenau and Maeve Macguire about politics, civic engagement and the power women have to shape our communities.

No political expertise required. No judgement. Just conversation, connection and a chance to learn. 💛
Proudly sponsored by Host Bookkeeping Systems Inc. ✨ Bookkeeping You Can Trust

📅 September 17 | 5:30–8:30 pm
📍 Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay
🎟️ Members $55 | Non-members $65

Tickets are on sale now — link in bio!

08/14/2026

Summer break has been fabulous and now we miss you and want to see you again!

This members only summer social is a casual gathering to reconnect and relax at the gorgeous Unsworth Vineyards tasting room patio.

We have a special gift for our guests, sponsored by Community Futures Cowichan and WeBC. We also have a beautiful gift basket to give away from Island Savings!

Light snacks are included, and beverages can be purchased. 🥂

Seating is limited and you must register to save your spot: https://www.cwbn.ca/upcoming-events

We can't wait to see you on August 26th at 4pm! 😘