Joan Macklin and other club members during a recent meeting.
Joan Macklin: women supporting women
President of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Montreal
Established in 1926, the Business and Professional Women's Club of Montreal is a local non-partisan organization that aims to provide support and works towards equality of opportunity and economic security for all women. At its core, it is women working for working women; providing advocacy, leadership, personal development and networking opportunities. Island resident, Joan Macklin, a corporate event planner, is president of all Quebec clubs.
"I've been a member for over 35 years," she tells us. "When I was hired as the assistant catering manager at the Westin Hotel, I originally joined for the networking possibilities, but as I immersed myself in women's issues, I became more passionate and vocal about changing things," she explains to us.
Joan, who has been an Island resident since 1979, was elected president of the Quebec chapter this past May, at a provincial conference.
She readily admits that, in the past 35 years, things have changed in the workplace for women, but much still needs to be done. " Sure, there are more women in the National Assembly, we have more maternity leave than anywhere else in the country, but we're still trying to work out a decent daycare program and women are still underpaid."
Advocacy and networking: the club's raison d'être
With over 100 countries having Business and Professional Women's Clubs and with the United Nations often consulting the International Chapter of Professional and Women's Clubs, the organization works to improve "the economic, political, social and working status of women". That however, does not negate networking, offering support to one another and building friendships.
The club meets on a monthly basis from September to June. In November they have Scholarship Night, when the Judith Litvack Women's scholarship and a scholarship for a Visible Minority Woman Graduate of Dawson College, are awarded.
International Night
On February 28, at the Saint James's Club, the BPW of Montreal will be celebrating "International Night". Guest speaker will be Wanda Bédard, president and owner of Holocene Solutions Inc., who was recently named Person of the Week by La Presse for her role in establishing the 60 Million Girls Foundation. This public foundation supports education projects in the developing world ensuring women have equal access to school. Approximately $100,000 was raised in Montreal for the Stephen Lewis Foundation for the Umoyo Training Centre in Kenya. Ms. Bédard will be speaking about the training centre and the reason why the 60 Million Girls Foundation selected it as its recipient in 2006. `
Tickets are $37 for BPW members and $47 for non-members. Reservations are a must and can be made by calling or emailing Joan Macklin, at jmacklin@videotron.ca (514-769-9023).
Women face different challenges in the workplace today, than they did 35 years ago. Much has improved and much still needs to be done, but issues that affect professional and business women are unique and complicated and require support, brainstorming and advocacy on a local and national level. There is undoubtedly strength in numbers, but most of all, as Joan Macklin would attest to, there is support in numbers.
Those interested in finding out more about BWP Canada, can log on to:
www.bpwcanada and link to the Montreal club.
par Toula Foscolos 
Steven Guilbeault - Chronique environnement
Richard Cléroux - Le fouineur politique
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