The International Women’s Society takes an evening every March for their annual potluck supper, and this year the spread of food was as impressive as any other year.
The event welcomed anyone from the community to attend and bring with them their favourite dish, to share with the group gathered. The evening always begins with a warm meal and the company of others, before moving on to listen to a guest speaker.
Society president Nazmia Bengeleil has been a part of the women’s group for many years and said that everyone looks forward to the potluck every spring, as it is the group’s biggest gathering of the year.
“We've been doing this for many, many years, since 2004, [and] what we really do is we try to learn from each other, different cultures, different foods, different things,” said Bengeleil. “It's nice because the woman here, they are like family now because we've been doing this for so many years, so we always look forward to this day.”
The speaker invited to this year’s event was Sheena Koops, a teacher, artist, and academic voice from here in Saskatchewan. Her passion lies with the history of Indigenous people here in the province, and the truth of the Treaty agreements.
Koops spoke of her journey, from a little girl growing up outside of Macoun, Sask. wondering who the land she loved belonged to over the years, to a teacher in Fort Qu’Appelle inspired to delve into the importance of talking about Treaties.
To conclude her presentation here in Moose Jaw, she encouraged everyone to embrace the things that speak to them and pursue the dreams they had as a child.
“I had that calling on my heart as a little girl, [asking] who are the people, [and] I think there's a calling on your heart that this is an important space to be a part of,” said Koops. “And I want to encourage you, in light of International Women's Day, to really listen to your little girl that's inside of each of us.”
The annual spring potluck really embodies what the International Women’s Society does all year round — offering women a community of support to help each other through the ups and downs of their lives.
The non-profit group meets on a monthly basis throughout the year and serves as a support not only for newcomers to the city but all women who are interested in joining a supportive community.
Gathering together with a group of women in this way offers a social connection, said Bengeleil, and offers a network that can answer questions or give advice from a number of different perspectives.
“It's a nice group of women that usually gathers and just sometimes talk about little things,” said Bengeleil. “If you have anything to ask or any problems, we can maybe try and help you or guide you or lead you to where you need to go.”
Hosting their annual potluck supper as a part of the International Women’s Day celebrations is just one way that the Women’s Society chooses to celebrate women’s strength.
“We like to spread awareness, to get women together and to just recognize women's achievements and efforts. Women are half the society, as we see, and they have a huge impact,” said Bengeleil. “Even as a group of women here in Moose Jaw, when we get together, we learn about our achievements and we encourage each other.”
Bengeleil encourages anyone interested in joining the International Women’s Society to reach out to the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council for more information.
“It's just our own effort, our own money, everything that we do,” said Bengeleil. “Anybody’s welcome and any woman who would like to join can join.”
