Paths and Pathfinders Program
In 1996, as part of International Women’s Day celebrations in the community, Archivist Val Billesberger established the Paths and Pathfinders: Women of Mission Program to preserve, and provide access to materials which document the lives and contributions of women in the City of Mission (formerly the District of Mission 1969-2021), Hatzic Prairie, Hatzic Island, Dewdney, Deroche, Nicomen Island, Lake Errock and McConnell Creek. To date, the lives and contributions of 112 women have been collected. Click here to find out who they are.
A key part of this program is the Annual Women of Mission Gala (formerly known as the Annual Celebration of Women) which is held in October during Women’s History Month in Canada to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional and every day real life contributions of women.
2021-2022 Annual Women of Mission Gala
On October 1st, 2022, the Mission Community Archives hosted the 25th Annual Women of Mission Gala at All Saint’s Anglican Church. The event was a smashing success! Tickets were sold out for the first time. More than 80 guests celebrated the lives and contributions of honourees: Ann Mohs, Barbara Strachan, and Margaret Peake. The event opened with a special welcome speech by Chief Alice Thompson of the Leq’á:mel First Nation followed by a celebratory toast to women given by MLA Pam Alexis. View our photo gallery of the event featuring photographs by Ellen Nguyen and Bob Friesen. If you wish to order any images please contact the Archives
Ann Mohs
Barbara Strachan
Margaret Peake
2021-2022 Annual Women of Mission Gala Photos
