The Kamloops Women’s Resource Group Society, TRU faculty and volunteers are pleased to announce a new resource for women in our community. The book, titled Not Just A Tea Party: Celebrating Women’s Contributions to Community Life, is dedicated to all of the women in Kamloops and region for their great work in making our community a better place to live.

Not Just A Tea Party: Celebrating Women’s Contributions to Community Life is edited by Trish Archibald and Julie Drolet.

To celebrate the publication, a book launch and a fine art exhibit have been planned for later this month. The exhibit, titled “Monument: Women’s Work”, is a series of screen prints by TRU faculty member Ila Crawford and honours the women featured in Not Just a Tea Party.

Book launch
When: Nov. 16, 2009 – 6:30-9:30 pm
Where: Interior Savings Centre, Rivers Room

View the art installation
The art installation will be on view Monday, Nov16 during the book launch and Tuesday, Nov17 from 10am – 5pm.

Event brought to you by
The Kamloops Women’s Resource Group Society and TRU faculty and volunteers have organized the events. The objectives are to:
1) To celebrate women’s contributions to community life in Kamloops and region
2) To thank all of the women in Kamloops for their efforts in making our community a better place to live
3) To launch a book in the community

The book’s background
Not Just A Tea Party: Celebrating Womens Contributions to Community Life was edited by TRU faculty members Trish Archibald and Julie Drolet

The book is part of a project documenting women’s participation and contribution to community life in Kamloops and region, from 1915 to present. Twelve women were nominated by their peers and invited to share their stories of community involvement, which continues today. Although sporadic attempts have been made over the years to collect the stories of women in community, no systematic effort has been made to document their stories. Today, many of the women who were active participants are aging and moving away and because many of these women are in their 80s and 90s, the time to hear them tell their stories is now.

The Kamloops Womens Resource Group Society is publishing this book to celebrate the work of women that often goes unnoticed. Women have always been involved in community work, and it is imperative to document their stories and how they’ve shaped, and continue to shape, the life of our city. Women’s work and contributions make our community a better place to live. Several years ago the ideas for the project started to percolate when a number of women came together and successfully secured funding for the project.

It is hoped that this book will further create stronger networks and associations between community members, community organizations, governments, and continue to improve our community’s ability to understand our present by sharing stories of our past.

Background to Art Monument: Womens Work
Ila Crawford, TRU visual arts faculty, visited the 12 women featured in the book and photographed them in their homes, Monumental images of the women, screen printed on transparent fabric panels, are installed as a group. The transparent panels overlap and the images inter-twine, echoing how women’s work unobtrusively and persistently builds community.

Acknowledgments
The book would not have been possible without the help of many people, most particularly the women who shared their stories of community work, their insights, and their wisdom

Editors thank
The editors wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canadas New Horizons for Seniors Program; the funding was crucial to the development of the book through the project, Untold Stories: Valuing Womens Contributions to Community Life. In addition, we wish to acknowledge the financial support of the BC Museums Association in collaboration with BC 150 Years: Celebrating Influential BC Women, Seniors & Elders Project Grants Program, Thompson Rivers University and the TRU Faculty of Arts Award.

Women’s resource group and TRU form partnership
A new partnership was created between the Kamloops Women’s Resource Group Society and TRU, including faculty in the departments of Social Work, Digital Design and Publication, Faculty of Arts, and TRU Media Services.

Thanks to TRU individuals
Appreciation to the TRU individuals who gave of their time and inspired all phases of the project, in particular: Trish Archibald, Ila Crawford, Julie Drolet, Connie Brim, Debra Andrews, Pam Niehaus, Tricia Sellmer, David DiFrancesco, Christina McLennan, Bob Clark, Ena Fraser, Anne Gagnon, Shona Moore, Ginny Ratsoy, Lois Rugg, Jillian Sweetnam, Courtney Wright, and Susan Cairn.

Contact: Ila Crawford, TRU Faculty Visual and Performing Arts, (p) 250-371-5706;
Trish Archibald, TRU Faculty Member, (p) 250-371-5568
Julie Drolet, TRU Faculty Member, (p) 250-828-5258