The Minerva Foundation for BC Women was officially launched at a celebration in February 2001. Our privilege is that Her Honour Lieutenant Governor, Iona Campagnolo, agreed to become our Honorary Patron for the Foundation. Frequently since February, 2001, Her Honour has conveyed inspirational, timeless messages either through the Minerva Messenger or at Minerva Foundation events. Some of these are presented below.

Sincerely, Lis Welch
Past Chair

May 2005 – Speech at Minerva North’s Learning to Lead™ Conference Opening Reception – UNBC

Dr. Deborah Poff, honoured guest, Ms. Adele Dion, Canadian Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, Directors and Members of Minerva North, fellow women:

The ‘Minerva’ of your organization’s namesake here in the North, is drawn from the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. However, the concept of achieving women helping younger women to similar achievement was conceived in honour of the memory of an inspired and selfless woman named Jean Minerva Campbell of Edmonton. Ms. Campbell epitomized the principles of this Foundation in all its many individual expressions. The Minerva Foundation is as practical and well-grounded as was its namesake, who left behind a ‘better world’, that so many of we old Feminists envisioned when we began in the 1960’s to raise our own and each other’s consciousness toward attainment of a dream of equal respect and equality under the Law to allow us to reach our highest level of achievement and attain, if we wished to, our personal independence.

Today, women have many of the legal protections that we sought nearly 40 years ago when most of us who sought leadership in any capacity were regarded as alien beings, ‘beyond the pale of civilized society’. We sought basic rights to open the door for all women to better, more autonomous and independent options in our existence. Practically speaking, some women still remain paid less than men in non-professional endeavours and we still live in a society where too many women are less valued than are some of their male counterparts as, to our shame, was most clearly demonstrated in the tragedy of Vancouver’s downtown east side women’s disappearances and murder. Most were of Aboriginal heritage and therefore twice-jeopardized in our society. But many remain vulnerable, particularly when young, often as single mothers, and often, too, as ethnic, undereducated, or intimidated women, the struggle to get an education and a future remains subject to a variety of subtle and not so subtle social-Darwinian impediments.

Women still struggle hard against residual discrimination, lack of educational opportunity and other less public barriers to capture their dreamed-of ‘better world’ for their children and themselves. Those of us who have successfully overcome the barriers to attain equal pay for work of equal value owe psychological as well as our financial support to those who have yet to gain it. Here in Prince George at Minerva North, you have wisely created a Foundation with a Northern perspective and a practical value system that every woman in this vast region can espouse! Your membership and leadership has the capacity to carve out a special place for achieving women to take their turn as leaders and become ‘precious’ contributors to the society they share and can help to lead.

Although anti-feminism is more muted today than in the furious days I recall during the 1970’s, we are now in a time when the gender of the professionals in all fields is far less a subject of discussion, as with some 50% of our medicine, law and social faculties are now peopled by women students, it is conceivable that there will be a time when women will be in the majority in these professions. Although numbers are improving, the battles are far from over in the science, engineering and mathematics fields. As for the world, I heard a journalist commenting during the process of the election of a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, who said that speculation coming out of North America had to be discounted, since of course “they look at the world through feminist lenses”! (Discount an entire continent for their equal respect for half of humanity!). The definition of feminism that has guided my own life was first published in Oxford University’s Athenaeum Magazine in 1895, stating: “A feminist is a woman or girl who has within herself the courage and determination to fight her way to independence”. I believe that still to be the case, and while it is true that women in North America have made some gains, women in many parts of the world have yet to gain even basic freedoms that many of our young women consider to be their birthright! In my view that is where women’s continued leadership must be felt.

We learned the lessons of instituting equality into the heart of our constitution here in Canada in 1982 when, after an enormous struggle, women’s equality was included in the people’s package of the Charter of Rights and Freedom. It is worth noting, I think, that it was the same year when our United States sisters were specifically denied an Equal Rights Amendment to their own constitution. Changing laws, as you all know only too well, is just one step on the road to changing public attitudes and altering cultureal and social mores. That takes more time and more effort by all concerned.

I have met young women who doubt that their advantaged places in today’s society were carved out for them by anyone but themselves. But there are others who know only too well the battles that put them where they are. Here in British Columbia, for example, in command of 7,000 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers is Deputy Commissioner Beverly Busson. There are women of substance and competence in most professions, at the highest levels of educational administration, flying aircraft, leading companies, inspiring the faithful, fighting their way through political turmoil in public life, and acting as essential volunteers in hosts of endeavours: All seeking to be of equal service to society.

We can’t afford to forget the history of our sex and the most powerful weapon to secure and sustain equality for women to be seen in the models of women leaders as exemplars. You are all aware that I can not comment on provincial or national partisan matters, so will mostly address women on the international scene. However, in the provincial election debate of last evening, we saw two competent women and one competent man debating the issues and the only issue concerning gender was whether or not the result was more civil than usual! We may finally have arrived at a time where the sex of a leader is no longer an issue. We have indeed come a long way, both here at home and on the world scene, as good women and good men remain at the heart of significant and positive change.

Internationally there are extraordinary women like Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Lawyer Shirin Ebadi of Iran, who I met last year and although constantly threatened and even at time imprisoned for her support of her fellow women, continues her courageous legal battles inside her tormented country. Ms. Ebadi speaks today for the tortured and murdered Canadian journalist Zarah Khasemi who can no longer speak for herself. We also salute the women of Afghanistan, women like their former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Sima Samar struggled free of the horrors of the Taliban to become the head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. She recently said “Women are not supposed to do only household work and looking after children but they have to get an education and participate in all areas of government service”. Women are half of the country’s population and have to re-gain their rights. In the meantime, the weak administration system in the country, women’s limited access to education, the absence of opportunities for economical growth among women, and lack of political awareness prevent Afghan women from becoming active in politics. After several attempts on her life, Sima Samar continues to work toward the beginnings of democracy and respect for her sex in her war-shattered country.

Here in Canada in non-political positions, we are very proud indeed of the first woman to head the Supreme Court of Canada, Justice Beverly McLaughlin and an unprecedented number of women in all divisions of Canada’s Courts, in medicine, in the professions and across the whole gamut of civil society. We take pride in the work of former Canadian Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour who in developing the International Criminal Court, became the Chief Prosecutor for the tribunals into the genocide in Rwanda and human rights abuses in Yugoslavia in the 1990’s and who is now the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. There are new generations of women, some of you in this room tonight who will make such history in the years ahead.

Before leaving the ICC, I might add, (as a person of no opinion of course) how satisfying it is to see the adoption of the United Nation’s Security Council Resolution #1593 on Sudan, referring the atrocities in Dafur to the International Criminal Court. Although with Canada, I am dismayed to see that persons in the Security Council and the African Union are exempt from the court’s jurisdiction, I expect the horrific sexual violence against women and girls in Darfu to be answered. The ICC was established to fill a dual capacity, first to insure accountability and second to deter the commission of the most serious international crimes. Let us work to assure the International Criminal Court answers the challenges before it, including the accelerated erosion in many jurisdictions of the International Convention against Torture. In this new century, I remain convinced that the use and extension of human rights legislation is the main tool to secure the road ahead to global governance.

We recognize and commend individual donors and local businesses for their generosity and their gifts of financial and other support through the presence of Minerva North to a new generation of leading women in this part of British Columbia. As one of the most respected such organizations in the province, the Minerva Foundation has particularly benefited from a partnership with the Bank of Montreal Financial Group. (If I may be accorded an old feminist aside, the Bank of Montreal has traveled light years in time and comprehension, from when I worked for them 50 years ago as a six day a week, $80.00 a month clerk!)

As I have recalled, many of us came from a time where choices were few and most doors were closed to us. The Minerva Foundation makes choices possible! That was always the goal; to create a world where all women can compete on a level playing field and become free to choose their own highest individual potential and achievement.

The grants made through the contributions and support of individual women and supporting sponsors simply and clearly changes women’s lives! So tonight, I commend those of you and the good men who support you, for having accepted responsibility for this outstanding reciprocal model for women in our society. In is an ages-old maxim that ‘from those to whom much has been given, there is much expected’! Following uncounted millennia of women being trained to compete against each other, Minerva sets a powerful example of women reaching out to assist our fellow-women… Each one of you in Minerva North, with many of your friends and associates who are not yet members, can make a huge difference in the lives of fellow women, ones who perhaps you may never meet, but whose future you can positively influence and whose life with her family members can be far more positive throughout the succeeding generations of her family.

In saluting you this evening, I thank you for moving the enlightenment of the feminist agenda into northern British Columbia consciousness through the power of the Minerva North foundation. You are raising ‘the status’ of women who need your assistance to reach the achievements of which they are capable by telling the truth about women’s equality. It was never a quest just for our own benefit, to get resources for ourselves; the whole movement was always pursued in the name of all women. Now is the time to give some of your resources to the future of other women. In my experience there is no greater satisfaction to be had than in giving the benefits of your own self-determination to create independence in another human being. AND… we must always remember that here in the north and around the whole world: until all women everywhere are free, no woman anywhere is ever free!

As representative in British Columbia of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen of Canada, it is my singular pride and delight to commend and to thank all members of the Minerva North group for contributing to needs of Northern women and for being a vital catalyst in developing better tomorrows for aspiring women and their children.

December 2004 - Letter

Greetings from the Ceremonial Home of all British Columbians! As B.C.’s representative of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen of Canada, and your Honorary Patron, please accept my good wishes as you celebrate the 5th anniversary of The Minerva Foundation’s support for women throughout this province.

The Minerva Foundation has rapidly developed an excellent program for women seeking an opportunity to realize their potential, regardless of previous challenges that they may have encountered. Through education, leadership development, special projects and mentoring, the Minerva Foundation provides important options for women seeking to enter or to re-enter the workforce, advance their careers, finish their education or overcome socio-cultural obstacles. The Minerva Foundation identifies women seeking to improve their situation by linking them to donors and sponsors for special grants and bursaries and the power to provide positive change in individual lives. All of us are enriched by the results!

Thank you for continued dedication to creating opportunities for the women throughout this province. I am confident that the Minerva Foundation will long enjoy success in its important and life-altering service to our society.

Sincerely,

Iona Campagnolo, CM, OBC
Lieutenant Governor

Spring 2002 - Message delivered on First Anniversary of The Minerva Foundation

On behalf of the people of British Columbia as a representative of her Majesty, The Queen of Canada, I extend congratulations on the occasion of your First Anniversary celebration.

In sending my greetings to the Minerva Foundation, I am struck by this example of progress made by women supporting women. By providing practical assistance in tuition, childcare, and housing the Minerva Foundation facilitates the movement of young women in need toward greater capacity, independence, and self-governance. Women long before us would be comforted by such progress. I am reminded of the 1898 definition of Feminism published in Great Britain’s Athenaeum Magazine defining Feminism as “a woman or girl who has within herself the strength to fight her way to independence”. We are still at it! The means to reach economic and leadership potential are increasingly supplied by fellow-women who have gained a foothold on that critical ladder and who can now assist those who are struggling to reach a first critical rung of achievement.

The Minerva Foundation, named for the ancient goddess of Wisdom, is lighting a path of learning toward a better future for women and for this Province.