Category Archives: Member Bios

Shirley’s Bio

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Name: Shirley McCoy

City: Ancaster, Ontario

Joined Soroptimist: July 1989

Reason For Joining: I  joined our local Soroptimist club to give back to our community and to make  a difference for women and girls in our local community and throughout the world.  I appreciate being with like-minded women who assist other women with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. I am proud to be a part of a global voice for women. There are many opportunities  for leadership development and professional growth.   I have been an active member of Soroptimist for 33 years, and have served as club president, Governor of Eastern Canada region and the SIA board of directors. 

Fun Fact: I love to travel, and as a Soroptimist member and SIA board member  there were many opportunities to attend conferences and international  conventions all around the world. I have been fortunate to meet many of our leaders and members  in  other countries. I enjoy meeting of with members and learning about their club activities and fundraising ideas. I have been so excited to  have traveled to Tiawan, Scotland, Honolulu, Vancouver, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Calgary, Montreal, Orlando, and Anaheim.

Janet’s Bio

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Name: Janet Barnard

City: Mount Pleasant, Brant, Ontario

Joined Soroptimist: Feb 2009

Reason for joining:  I was invited to a meeting by a colleague, and was drawn into a group of welcoming women helping other women and girls.  Enjoyed new friendships and liked the fact that we were all working towards making a difference in other women’s lives, most particularly in our community. 

Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking, sewing, gardening, reading, traveling with our 5th wheel trailer.  Semi retired as a bookkeeper and often when we are traveling can continue from wherever we are. I can remember camping in Desert Hot Springs California, while working away I could look out one window to see palm trees and other window mountains, great memories.

Brooke’s Bio

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Name: Brooke Gordon 

City: Waterdown, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec

Joined Soroptimist: January 2007

Reason for joining: One of my friends invited me to a meeting and I really enjoyed getting to know other women who were passionate about gender equality and making a change. I was honoured to attend the UN NY Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) with a Soroptimist delegation on Violence Against Women and Girls. I am glad to have a local venue to continue that advocacy work by raising awareness of violence and trafficking here in Hamilton. I also have a tremendous amount of fun and laughter at our conferences and conventions, and I receive so much joy from the opportunities to provide mentorship to young women in high school through our Dream It Be It program. 

Fun Fact: I host MoreThan Good Food, the podcast.

Barb’s Bio

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Name: Barbara Mccoy

City: Hamilton Ontario

Joined Soroptimist: September 1991

Reason for joining:  I was looking for a volunteer service club, who supported women & girls in the community. What I found was a club comprised of  dynamic and caring women, who are passionate about helping women in girls, locally, nationally & globally.

Fun Fact: I survived a fall in a hot air balloon in the Swiss alps in the winter.

Jane’s Bio

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Jane is a Registered Dietitian of J. Oulton & Associates, providing Nutrition Consulting Services for Long Term Care facilities. She is also president of Diet Kontrol Inc., a company specializing in software for dietary departments in Long Term Care.

Jane grew up and went to school in Vancouver. She moved to Ontario in 1979 to complete a dietetic internship at North York General Hospital. Following that, she settled in Ancaster and raised her family. The children are grown and now off on their own adventures (the dog and turtle gone too). With her husband as a business partner, Jane is focusing on growing her business, but both take time to enjoy skiing, golfing, travel and time with family and friends. And of course, being a dietitian, all activities must involve food.

Jane at the Grand Canyon

Jane at the Grand Canyon

Jane joined Soroptimist as a charter member of the Dundas Ancaster club in 1987 (now Dundas Ancaster Flamborough). One day while walking with her daughter in a stoller on the main street in Ancaster, the owner of one of the shops approached her about Soroptimist. Eager to meet new friends and do some volunteer work in the community she signed up. Since then, Jane has held several positions including club President, Secretary, Treasurer as well as Secretary on the Eastern Canada Region Board.

“I have made some very special friends in Soroptimist and had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, helping women and girls achieve their goals and dreams. Working together on fundraising and disbursement of monies to worthwhile projects and causes with a group of fun, hardworking and successful women is one of the things I like best. Our meetings and conventions always include food, fun, laughter and friendship.”