The University Women’s Club of Vancouver is a hub of activity with over 30 member-directed interest groups that offer something for everyone. Our interest groups meet at various times throughout the week or month, sometimes incorporating meals and refreshments, with new groups forming regularly. For information on any group that appeals to you, please contact the interest group Convenor (if you’re a member) or email our office (office@uwcvancouver.ca).
Book Club - Afternoon
Join us on the second Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm as we delve into our latest book from an interesting and varied selection. Always a good discussion. All avid readers are welcome. Shelley Nicholl, ConvenorBook Club - Evening
We meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:15 to 8:00 pm to discuss popular fiction. All members are welcome to join our group. Camille Parent & Valerie Taylor, Co-ConvenorsBridge - Beginners
This group is for members who want to learn the game. If you are starting bridge, this is where to hone your skills. We meet on Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Everyone welcome. Gwen Smith, ConvenorBridge
Our group meets on Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 pm. Pat Facer, Convenor.Busy Gourmet
We meet monthly (generally on the 3rd Tuesday at 6:45 pm) to share a cooperative dinner based on themes chosen by rotating hostesses. Members enjoy exchanging recipes and food stories, discovering new dishes and food tips, as well as good company and conversation. Recipes and food photos from each evening are shared with all members of the group email list. We welcome all members (cooks and professed non-cooks, as well as “busy” gourmets with purchased food contributions). Wendy Lee, Karen Scherloski & Janet Tsoi, Co-ConvenorsCinéphiles
Film enthusiasts, join fellow UWCV members at the movies! Hana Carbert, ConvenorCommunity Outreach
This group promotes member engagement in the local Vancouver community by introducing them to non-profit/social service organizations and organizing hands-on activities for members to participate in to support these organizations on a grassroots level. Mari La Rosa, ConvenorDance Stars
The Dance STARS group offers members line dance classes with two professional instructors. Dance experience and a partner are not required. Various line dances to up-tempo music are taught, including latin and modern ballroom, jazz, rock & roll, world music, and country styles. Classes are held on Wednesdays in the Ballroom from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm. Sign-up for ongoing sessions is monthly, with advance payment of fees to cover instructors’ costs. Members enjoy trying out dances at dinner and dance events at Hycroft. Wendy Lee & Mei Tan, Co-ConvenorsThe Décor-ators
Hycroft’s decorators are a fun-loving group of creative women who, when asked, ‘set the scene’ for club events. We create centrepieces for dinners, and we decorate for gatherings, parties, galas, and seasonal events…in particular, “Hycroft for the Holidays”. Our group welcomes new members who seek opportunities to ‘work and play’ collaboratively and creatively with others.Lee Dennstedt & Paula Boleen, Co-Convenors
Femme du Fromage
A fun group that meets every fourth Tuesday of the month to enjoy an evening of various cheeses, nice wines, crusty bread, tasty salads and – most importantly – good company. You will learn about the various cheeses and matching wines that our volunteer presenters bring to share and enjoy stories and friendship around the big dining table. Monthly reminders are sent to members on our email list, so you never have to miss out. Nicole Clement & Joanne Gaspard, Co-ConvenorsFood & Friendship
Join us for adventurous meals and interesting conversations at local restaurants. We will explore less frequented cuisines to experience culinary delights together when we can. Jean Hurst & Helen Law, Co-ConvenorsFrench for Beginners
Brush-up your French Language. Join us to engage conversations on music, travel, cuisine and much more. We meet on Wednesdays at 10:30 am to 12:00 pm from September to June. Daniele Walker, Convenor
French Conversation
Our regular meetings are Monday afternoons at 3:30 on Zoom, and we will also have in person meetings occasionally at Hycroft. This self-directed group provides an opportunity for members to improve their skills and enjoy speaking French together. Members of the group rotate chairing duties, which primarily involves choosing an article for the week and sending it out to the members in advance of each session. The article is read aloud and discussed afterwards. The chair also leads the discussion, so a basic working knowledge of French is required. In addition, members share a brief essay they have prepared on a topic of interest. Our sessions are fun and at the same time we improve our conversational skills and knowledge of French. In order to allow all members to participate in the discussions, numbers of the group may be limited. Noga Gayle, Christine McPhedran, Co-Convenors
Hycroft Vocal Ensemble
Enjoy the camaraderie of Women’s Voices singing together. This is fun group and you don’t have to read music to reap the benefits. Women’s Voices singing together is a beautiful thing! Mondays from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Janet Davidson, janetdavidson@shaw.ca; Courtenay Webber courtenay@the-future.ca, Co-Convenors
Hycroft Painters
The Hycroft Painters meet Wednesday afternoons in the Coach House. Members work in many different mediums, including acrylic, oil and watercolour. We bring our own supplies and work on our own projects but share fellowship and fun as we encourage each other in our work. Eva Wideman, ConvenorIn Discussion
IN DISCUSSION meetings are held on the fourth Monday, September thru June. Topics are specific and current, set and moderated by rotating hosts. A moderated discussion, led by a presentation which concludes with a summary. Dinner is offered prior to our meetings, requiring a reservation. A monthly notice is received by those within the group list. We look forward to meeting In Discussion, where all are welcomed. Janet Percy, ConvenorKeep Fit
Tuesdays 10 am – 11:15 am. Fridays 11:00 am-noon.Our certified instructor, Debbi Bloomfield, uses music to lead us through warm-up, low-impact cardio, strength, balance and stretching exercises. Mats, weights, and bands were provided. Contact the convenor if you are interested in joining. No drop-ins, please. $10/class NOTE: July & August – Tuesdays only. Vivian Aronson, Convenor
Mahjong
Join us for a friendly game of Hong Kong-style Mahjong. We meet on Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 pm and play for fun. If you don’t know how to play, we’ll teach you! Helen Law, ConvenorMonday Writers Group
A self-directed group with a focus on memoirs. We meet each Monday morning to discuss writing techniques, write to prompts, share our work and provide feedback to one another. It produces laughter, tears, and much appreciation that ‘hard writing makes easy reading.’ We have been inspired and instructed by presentations from guest speakers and members who are published. Because of the nature of the writing and sharing, the group is kept to 7 members. We will support other interested writers to begin a second group. Susan Mogan, ConvenorPlay Reading
This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 pm. No great acting ability is required – just the desire to read a good play and discuss some of the issues that may arise. Joy March, ConvenorShall We Dance - Intermediate Ballroom
On Wednesday evenings, members and their partners dance in our beautiful Ballroom from 7-9 pm. We engage a professional couple to teach us Latin and Ballroom dance steps and techniques. We enjoy attending dinner/dance events at Hycroft and local venues during the year. We welcome new members with ballroom dance experience at the intermediate level if space is available. We cannot accommodate members with little or no dance experience, but we are happy to assist members interested in forming a new group at the beginner level. Paula Boleen & Lorna Menzies, Co-ConvenorsSip & Stitch
This group meets in person on the first Wednesday of every month from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. We bond over our love of happy hour and fibre. This inclusive group is open to all levels and mediums—knit, crochet, sew, felt, etc. We are looking forward to meeting new members and inspiring each other with our skills! Jessica Beverley & Mary Speer, Co-Convenors
Social Games Night
Come and enjoy a casual social evening of games. Learn or teach a new card game, or bring an old-time favourite board game from home. What we play is dependent on numbers and interest. With enough players, we can have several different tables going at once. Enjoy pizza supplied at $8 per person. Pizza is at 6:00 pm., and games start at 6:30 pm. We meet on the second Monday of each month. Joanne Gaspard, Convenor.
Social Lights
Welcome to the Social Lights, a vibrant interest group designed to celebrate and enhance our feminine sides through engaging events and activities. We gather monthly on the first Thursday evening (and Sundays in the Wedding off-season), where we will engage in discussion or activities to foster camaraderie, personal growth, and, of course, fun! Gatherings this year will include workshops focused on health/wellness, homemaking & beauty, a picnic and a themed gala. We communicate primarily through WhatsApp and our email list and encourage you to join our fellow Social Lights. If you have any questions about the Social Lights, Shandie Wattley, Convenor
Song Waves
This group meets occasionally on a Sunday from 2:00 -3:30 pm. Check the club’s calendar for the date. Join us for a relaxing and fun-filled afternoon with DJ Courtenay Webber, who will be spinning tunes based on your requests. Engage in lively conversation and delight in the music. Whether you prefer to express yourself through song or dance, or simply wish to unwind, this is a perfect opportunity to forge new friendships with fellow music enthusiasts. Janet Davidson, Convenor
UWCV Knitters
We meet in person on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. We are a creative and social group who knit or crochet a variety of artistic original projects of our own choosing. We are happy to help you learn to knit or crochet or brush up on your yarn skills. New Members are always welcome to create cozy moments stitch by stitch. Laraine Barclay & Susan Wong, Co-ConvenorsWhiskey Women
We meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month to taste new whiskeys, learn the art of nosing and tasting, share dinner and most importantly, have fun. Sharing whiskey-related information and news and the occasional virtual whiskey tasting may be organized until then. Joanne Gaspard & Krista Klein, Co-ConvenorsWine Appreciation
Meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month, starting at 6 pm, to share good wines, food and most of all, good company. Our Chef prepares a delicious dinner, and the cost is billed to your club account. The cost of wines varies each time and is shared by the attendees. Presentations by our members are always fun and informative, and occasionally, we might have an invited guest presenter or go off-site for an event. A monthly reminder is sent to those who are on the interest group’s e-mail list, and registration must be confirmed beforehand. Nancy Wu, ConvenorStart a New Group
Members interested in starting a new interest group need only three interested members to participate in order to have suitable space at Hycroft provided. All interest groups function at no cost to the Club. The Interest Group Chair will assist any member in forming a new interest group.
To create a new Interest Group please refer to the following forms:
