Blog

We’re Rebranding!

December 12, 2019

SWOVA is rebranding! Since 1996, our organization’s full name has been “SWOVA Community Development and Research Society.” We continue firmly rooted in the original purposes reflected in our 1996 Constitution, but in mid-2020, we hope to announce a new name for our organization.

For more than a year we have worked behind the scenes to renew our mission and vision statements, clarify our core values and develop a strategic plan for our future. After almost a quarter of a century of service to the Gulf Islands and communities beyond, the people of SWOVA—employees, facilitators and board members—are engaged in renewing our programs and operations to serve a new generation of students and educators. Honouring our past, we look forward to future effectiveness and expansion.

We hope you, our Members and Friends, will support our efforts by:

  • attending a General Meeting next spring to consider a special resolution changing the name of our society
  • voting on the special resolution if you’re a voting Member of our society
  • getting updates by checking our new website and its blog
  • following us on Facebook and Instagram and in the news
  • sharing our programs and impacts with others

We know your interest in SWOVA reflects your own passion for creating healthy, gender-equitable, and violence-free communities. We are always glad to receive your emails. Interested in volunteering? Please do let us know; opportunities are available!

Thank you for your interest and support.

Re-defining Feminism  by Elise Pearson

Re-defining Feminism by Elise Pearson

I find that definitions can be limiting and problematic, and I’d like to see if I can encourage you to think for yourselves about what this word, or movement, or ideology might mean to you. Instead I’ll start by providing a few different definitions I’ve come across...

The Process of Consent by Elise Pearson

The Process of Consent by Elise Pearson

On May 25th girls from the Salish Sea Girls' Leadership Project and recruits from grade 12 at GISS (Gulf Islands Secondary School) entered the high school to talk to the grade 11 students about sexual health and consent. In my own experience, and in speaking with...

SparkFest – Sparkling Inspiration

SparkFest – Sparkling Inspiration

Sparkfest is the annual SWOVA fundraiser that the youth from Pass It On organize. This year on April 30, they really outdid themselves: Music by Ashleigh Ball from Hey Ocean, Tara Maclean & Suzanne Little, spoken word from Morgan Klassen, and the GISS imrov team....

Nurture Commitment – By Kate Nash

Nurture Commitment – By Kate Nash

As the last months of Pass it On pass by, I am confronted with the word commitment. We all practice commitment in our lives, more often unconsciously.  We are the most committed to our lovers, children, friends and habits, following through in our support without...

Be Inspired! Sparkle at Sparkfest

Be Inspired! Sparkle at Sparkfest

Good News! Sparkfest is weeks away, and we are all getting very excited for our 5th annual Pass It On benefit. Sparkfest will be held on April 30th at the Harbour House Hotel. This year’s generous performers are Ashleigh Ball from Hey Ocean; the Brony documentary;...

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.