Langley, BC & Yukon Business & Professional Women Work Globally to Aid In Nigerian Kidnapping Crisis.
Submitted. Langley women leaders attended the recent Business & Professional Women (BPW) of BC & Yukon Conference and AGM which was held at the Best Western Regency Inn & Conference Centre in Abbotsford from June 6th to the 8th. Two BPW delegates represented Langley: BPW Langley President, Deanna Evertt and VP, Christine Trischuk.
Cover Photo: BPW Kamloops member Barb Ezart wears “#Bring Back Our Girls Now & Alive” campaign shirt at the BPW BC & Yukon Conference.)
During the Saturday meeting, a letter was read which was sent by the BPW Canada to PM Stephen Harper about the Nigerian Boko Haram kidnappers and the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign. This prompted an urgent skype call between the delegates and attendees of the conference and the BPW International Regional Coordinator for Africa, Adenike Adeyanju-Osadolor, in Nigeria. Ms. Adeyanju-Osadolor was able to give the group first hand information on the situation. She emphasized that global awareness and assistance was urgently needed.
BPW International VP, Jill Worobec, BPW BC & Yukon President, Heather Mary Stewart and BPW Langley President, Deanna Evertt create a resolution urging the Provincial government to join the Global campaign to “Bring Back Our Girls Now & Alive”.
Immediately after, the BPW BC & Yukon group motioned to draft an emergency resolution. BPW International VP, Jill Worobec, BPW BC & Yukon President, Heather Mary Stewart and BPW Langley President, Deanna Evertt then broke from the group to work on and create a resolution urging the Provincial government to join the Global campaign to “Bring Back Our Girls Now & Alive”. The resolution is now on it’s way to all members of the Provincial government.
Also at the conference, BPW International VP, Jill Worobec brought back a fundraising shirt from BPW Africa with the slogan “#Bring Back Our Girls Now & Alive”. These shirts are printed and sold with all proceeds going toward the cause.
The Business & Professional Women (BPW) is an advocacy group for women and girls in our local communities and across the globe. To be able to skype on a moment’s notice with another BPW member in Nigeria at a conference and then have the leadership and expertise necessary to follow up with a resolution and make a difference is one of the main advantages of the global organization and sets BPW clubs apart from other networking or service clubs
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International) has clubs in more than 100 countries around the world and Category Consultative Status at the United Nations. Notable Canadian members of the BPW include Emily Carr, Kim Campbell, Mobina Jaffer, Roberta Bondar and Rita Johnston.
If you are interested in learning more about BPW Langley visit the facebook page: www.facebook.com/BPWLangley1