Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Catholic Women's League is celebrating its 75th anniversary with more than 114,000 members across Canada. In Fort Smith, the Catholic Women's League will celebrate its 41st year with 11 active members.
However, we have been fortunate in Fort Smith and honoured to have the Catholic Women's League and the Mackenzie Diocese spiritual director from Fort Smith. Donna Currie is only the second woman to hold that position. In the past, the CWL always had a priest as a chaplain.
The CWL started in Fort Smith in 1954 with eight members and they were, at the time, Mrs. Saraphine Evans, Mrs. Bohnet, Mrs. Gratix, Mrs. Giroux, and Mrs. Amirault, who was the first president, with Father Mokwa being the chaplain.
Mr. Speaker, the objectives of the CWL actually began when they responded to a call from Bishop Emil Legal to assist immigrant women. The CWL came to the rescue by setting up the first English as a second language course in Canada. In 1946, the league passed resolutions to provide youth centres across the country to combat juvenile delinquency. In Alberta, it had its key role in setting up and funding women's shelters. In 1958 in Fort Smith, Father Mousseau, who is now in Yellowknife, became the first chaplain of the CWL and the league was also amalgamated with Alberta at the time.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the league concentrated on the sanctity of life, women in the church, Christian family life, world peace, pension reform and social justice for women worldwide. I would like to take the time to recognize the present active members of the CWL: Donna Currie, Anna Hodgkins, Monique Bird, Jean Le Guerfler, Dora Tourangeau, Saraphine Evans, Giselle Soucy, Joan Langevin, Isabelle Le Guerrier, Margaret Levadnuk, and Charlotte Anderson. Saraphine Evans was one of the initial members and continues to be involved. One of the other members, Dora Tourangeau, is in her late 80s and still helps out with the CWL. I would like to take the time to commend and thank the women who have given all their extra effort to the CWL. We are proud of our women, who continue to be active members in striving for the spiritual interest of our community. Thank you.
---Applause