Community Links

Navan WI – along with other groups – provide meals and refreshments in support of the hockey tournament.

Navan WI donates funds in support of this series of free family-oriented band concerts.

Navan WI regularly donates some of the money we raise to the Cumberland Resource Centre to meet their programming needs.

Navan WI supports school activities and contributes funds as requested.

Navan WI regularly contributes funding to the Navan Fair and supports the fair by volunteering as needed.

Fall Fest was first proposed by one of the Navan WI members and we were one of the founding members of the Fall Fest Organizing Committee. We sought out others – the Navan Community Association, the Navan Fair Board, the Navan Lions Club, and the Navan Streetwalkers – to participate. The aim was to provide a fun-filled free activity for Navan families. Along with the assistance of groups such as the Navan Grads and many individuals, the organizing committee successfully put together 10 annual events, with families young and old participating. In order to fund these free activities, the event included a pay as you wish barbecue, a bake sale, and a community silent auction. The latter two were organized by members of the Navan WI, as well as free activities such as the Fish Pond and Community Mural. The last few years have seen young people stepping up to continue the traditions, although many WI members are still very active.

Navan WI, Navan Lions Club, and the Navan Community Association (NCA) often work together on a variety of fundraising and community projects. These include Fall Fest, the Navan Remembrance Day Ceremony, the Bradley Cup Amateur Hockey Tournament, and the Navan Builders Wall. In addition, we raise money for our causes by providing dinners for the Lions Club monthly meetings; and work with them to assist community members in need.

The Navan WI provides funds to the publication of the Navan Nugget and is a regular contributor, providing information on our activities and events. One of our active members also writes up a regular column on Navan Notables. We regard the Nugget as an important community link for all of us.

Navan WI members lay a wreath at the annual service and assist in providing a luncheon after the service for those who attend.

Navan WI raised and donated funds to purchase the Jaws of Life tool for the department.

Navan WI supports the activities of this group.

Navan WI has worked with staff at Domaine Perrault in Navan for wine and food pairing fundraising events. Attendees sampled wines from the Domaine paired with tasty treats prepared by the Navan WI members. Funds raised supported programs in our local community.

Navan WI works with the church to assist community members in need.

Navan WI brought affordable, professional theatre to Navan in the form of Torchlight Shakespeare in the Park. We worked – and continue to work – with the general manager to enable staging of the production, to publicise the event within our local community, and to provide a reception for the cast and crew following the performance.

Navan WI works with the church to assist community members in need.

The Russell District is composed of 5 branches – Cumberland, Leonard, Navan, North Russell and Russell District. Together we support one other by attending events put on by the various branches and by organizing an annual meeting, where we have a short business meeting, enjoy some entertainment and a listen to a guest speaker and to learn what others are doing to make their communities a better place. Some of our shared activities include picnics, visits to museums and tea rooms, lunches, and shared experiences putting on conferences and events.

Navan WI is a part of the Eastern Ontario Area of the FWIO, which stretches from the Quebec border in the east and north, to the St. Lawrence in the south, and Pembroke in the west. Through education and support programs and services, FWIO’s original focus expanded to include personal growth opportunities, government lobbying, and health and community wellness projects. The annual fees collected by Navan WI branch go largely to support the initiatives of FWIO, including the maintenance of the Erland Lee Museum in Stoney Creek, Ontario.

The FWIC is the national organization representing WIs across the country. A small portion of our annual fees goes to support the ongoing initiatives of FWIC whose mission it is to have a national network for women and families, to promote leadership and personal development opportunities through education and fellowship. FWIC organizes a convention every 3 years to bring together women from around the country to share ideas and experiences.

The ACWW is an international association of women’s groups that exists to amplify the voices of rural women, so that the problems they face and the solutions they raise are heard and acknowledged by international policy-makers and legislators. ACWW has official status as a consultative body at various UN agencies. It conducts many developmental projects aimed at improving the lives of rural women and hosts a tri-annual convention. Navan WI supports its work through donations to specific projects as well as through the Pennies for Friendship initiative, a small monetary donation held at each of our local meetings and sent to ACWW each year.

The Navan WI has twinned with the Creekside WI from the Isle of Wight and exchanges regular correspondence with WI members both from the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man.  In 2020 they participated in a shared Zoom meeting taking a tour of the Erland Museum.