CHAMPIONING WOMEN’S HEALTH By Ashley Oakley
Members of the Canadian Progress Club - Calgary Prairie Rose chapter toured the new Suncor Women’s Health Centre.
Meaningful change can come from nine committed volunteers, a shared purpose, and a belief in supporting women where the need is greatest. The Canadian Progress Club – Calgary Prairie Rose has been quietly transforming lives since 1986. For Janice Wilson, current president of the chapter, the shared mission is what drew her in 15 years ago. “There was a common goal that brought everyone together, and the fellowship aspect really mattered,” she says. The club has contributed more than $520,000 through Calgary Health Foundation, supporting areas of women’s healthcare that are often underfunded. One example is the Pelvic Floor Clinic. “Pelvic floor health wasn’t on most people’s radars,” Wilson says. “Yet the need was enormous.” The club helped fund hydraulic treatment beds, improving patient comfort, dignity, and access. “Seeing those beds in use, understanding how much easier they made care for
women — it made everything very real,” Wilson says. “We felt like true partners.” Cari McLaughlan, current treasurer and longest-standing member, agrees. “Our club has always focused on women’s health, and that resonated with me,” she says. McLaughlan’s desire to help where it’s most needed led Prairie Rose to support the establishment of the Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team (CSART). The program offers compassionate, specialized care to survivors of sexual assault. In 2024, the club donated $15,000 toward contrast- enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), which allows for earlier detection of ovarian tumours without exposing patients to radiation. After nearly 40 years, the club remains committed to asking how it can help next. Wilson sums things up simply: “We love Calgary. Supporting women’s health here feels like one of the most meaningful ways we can give back.”
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It started at bingo. As a kid, Stuart Myron watched his father win $2,000, then give it right back to their synagogue. “My parents modelled generosity to me early,” says Myron. “They taught me that anyone can be a philanthropist at any age.” His parents believed in giving (his mother was also the co-chair of the United Way), GIVING IS ALL IN THE FAMILY By Kimberley McNeil
Stuart Myron
Breakthroughs [ Spring 2026 ]
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