Quaker Blog

Welcoming our new Office Coordinator

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Join us in welcoming Eva Lacelle, the new Office Coordinator for Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM). She will be assisting CYM with the various office transitions we are undergoing.

Eva brings many years of experience working in finance and office administration. She spent more than 30 years as an Office Administrator in the Physics Department at Carleton University. She worked closely with graduate students, managed research grants and oversaw the departmental operating budget. Eva has had the privilege to work as part of the team tasked with the expansion of the Nobel Prize-winning Sudbury Neutrino Observatory into a world-class, underground research facility now known as SNOLAB.

In her spare time, Eva enjoys cycling, kayaking and all things “crafty.”

 

Come to Canadian Yearly Meeting 2022

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Canadian Yearly Meeting 2022 will be happening online from August 7-13 and registration is now open! There is no closing date for adult registration, but early registration will help with planning. If you would like to participate in the Children & Youth Program or Worship Sharing in small groups, please register before Sunday July 24th.

What is Yearly Meeting?

Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) is a gathering once a year for all Canadian Quakers. Its Business Meetings are the main decision-making body of Quakers in Canada.

Who can attend?

The gathering might be for Canadian Quakers, but Quaker visitors from outside Canada are also welcome – as are those new to the Quaker ways, or those who are just curious. There will be extra info, support, and even a buddy system available for newcomers who would like such things. (Quiet lurkers are also welcome to dip a toe in!)

What happens at Yearly Meeting?

Besides business and committee meetings, there’s also lots of time for fun and games, socializing, and sessions focusing on spiritual development, social justice, and Quaker history.

Key events and speakers are highlighted on the CYM 2022 homepage, with more info to come. Those who register get immediate access to the current detailed schedule.

What does it cost to attend?

There are considerable costs to run Yearly Meeting in Session, even as an online event. We are requesting a donation/registration fee of $50 per person, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. See the Payment for CYM 2022 page for details and payment methods.

More info

More and new information – from details of fun events and or business documents – will be posted to the  CYM 2022 site from now ’til the end of the gathering.

Hiring an Office Coordinator

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Note: We’ve extended the deadline to 5 pm Eastern on Friday, June 3rd, 2022, in light of the recent storm disruption in the Ottawa area.

We are hiring an Office Coordinator. This is a part-time position (17.5 hrs per week) based in Ottawa and accountable to the General Secretary-Treasurer of Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. The Office Coordinator’s role is to support the work of the national office by maintaining the office and providing financial, fundraising, communication, and program support.

Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM) of the Religious Society of Friends is the formal name of the main organization of Quakers in Canada. Quakers are a faith group. CYM is made up of different meetings, groups, and committees. Quakers volunteers within the worship community do most of the organization’s work, with CYM’s paid staff support.

Skills and experience we are seeking

As the Office Coordinator for the national office in Ottawa, you will have several years’ experience in providing support for the maintenance of an office and are familiar with (and enjoy using) a variety of computer software systems such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Zoom, and CRM databases. You have basic experience with Quickbooks and accounting apps such as Dext and Plooto. Your communication skills are excellent. You are well organized, a self-starter, detail-oriented, have no problem with tight deadlines, and have excellent time management skills. As the CYM office has a small staff, you will need to be able to multi-task and be willing to roll up your sleeves and be part of the team!

You will be responsible for maintaining the Ottawa office by managing the CRM database, equipment, paper and digital files, processing mail, and working with IT to troubleshoot and solve technical problems. Experience with CRM data management logic, as well as reporting and privacy rules, is an asset. You will work closely with the General Secretary-Treasurer to ensure the CRM database integrates with other office platforms seamlessly.

On the financial side of the job, you will process invoices, donations, acknowledgements, reports, and event registrations. You will manage petty cash and bank deposits. You are familiar with issuing tax receipts for a Canadian charity and are aware of CRA compliance requirements.

Together with the CYM team, you will facilitate information flow throughout Quaker meetings and committees by assisting with the solicitation, preparation and distribution of minutes, documents, and other resources. Organizing logistics for meetings and bulk mailings will also be an essential part of your responsibilities.

Deadline & More Information

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to .  In light of the recent storm disruption in the Ottawa area, we’ve extended the deadline to 5 pm Eastern on Friday, June 3rd, 2022.. While we thank those who apply for their interest, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

This is a part-time position. Depending on qualifications and experience, the salary range is $38,000-$45,000 (FTE), prorated to .5 FTE or 17.5 hours per week.

To view or print a more detailed job description, open the Job Description – CYM Office Coordinator (PDF).

To view or print the information from this post, open the Job Advertisement – CYM Office Coordinator (PDF).

Reopening of Canadian Quaker Library & Archives!

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 We are delighted to announce the Canadian Quaker Library & Archives is re-opening. Archives Committee invite you to celebrate this reopening online with us on Monday, May 2, starting at 8 pm Atlantic, 7 pm Eastern, 6 pm Central, 5 pm Mountain and 4 pm Pacific.

Canadian Yearly Meeting’s new Archivist, Michelle Tolley, will join us live from the archives on May 2. In-person access to our collection will also soon be possible by appointment with Michelle. We ask that you be double vaccinated, wear a mask and complete pre-appointment covid19 screening.

To get the Zoom link and for information on how to resume depositing documents at the archives, please visit the Archives Reopening post on the business side of our website. (You will need to sign-in or sign-up as a user to view this; alternately please email for the Zoom link.)

 

Workshop on Diversity & Inclusion

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Registration is now open for “Diversity & Inclusion in Quaker Practice” – a 3-part spirit-led workshop series that will run on April 30, May 7, and May 14.  The workshop is offered by Canadian Yearly Meeting’s Education & Outreach Committee and facilitated by Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in the United Kingdom.

The workshop’s facilitators will support participants in having important and challenging conversations, with the goal of transforming our Quaker Meetings into truly welcoming spaces. We will reflect upon and learn from some of the times when Quakers have failed to be fully inclusive. Participants will be encouraged to explore the power that we do and don’t have, and learn about ‘intersectionality’ (i.e., how different forms of oppression interweave, and cannot be untangled from each other). We will discuss how differences can make us feel uncomfortable, and why it is important to address that discomfort rather than avoid it. Finally, we will reflect on  next steps you can take to make your Meeting more inclusive.

The cost is $50, with some financial assistance available.

To register and for more information, see the workshop’s Registration Form.