Soroptimist Club of North and West Vancouver Marks 75 Years of Empowering Women and Girls
Soroptimist of North & West Vancouver Members
Thank you for a wonderful evening!
On September 27th, we celebrated our 75th anniversary, with a sold-out Lobster Dinner Fundraiser at the West Vancouver Yacht Club. The evening brought together more than 100 guests for a night of dining, live music, inspiring stories, and a look back at the club’s long history of community impact.
Club President Sharon Lockhart welcomed attendees, highlighting both the club’s local contributions and its global reach.
“Soroptimists are the world’s best-kept secret,” Sharon told the crowd. “By raising our visibility here in North and West Vancouver, we can attract new members and raise more funds to empower women and girls through education, mentorship, and support.”
100 years of History, 120 countries, 720,000 members
The Soroptimist International organization, founded over 100 years ago, now spans 120 countries with 72,000 members worldwide. Each year, its programs transform thousands of lives: in 2024-25 alone, more than 2,300 women received Live Your Dream Awards to pursue their education, nearly 24,000 girls participated in the Dream It, Be It mentorship program, and more than 21,000 women and girls benefited from Big Goal projects.
Sharon also shared SI’s international advocacy work, noting that Soroptimist International holds consultative status at the United Nations, where representatives advocate directly with civil societies and member states, on issues impacting women and girls around the globe.
The evening also honoured our club’s history and origins. On April 5, 1950, the Soroptimist International Club of West Vancouver was officially chartered at the Capilano Golf and Country Club. Since then, our club has been a steady presence on the North Shore, advancing opportunities for women and girls for three-quarters of a century.
Lobster Dinner Fest, Food, Fun and Silent Auction
Our guests at the anniversary celebration enjoyed a festive lobster dinner, live entertainment, and a moving address from Diana Orejuela, a Western Canada Region Live Your Dream Award recipient who shared how Soroptimist support has shaped her journey. A lively silent auction added to the evening’s success, raising funds for local programs.
Proceeds from the event will directly support the Live Your Dream Awards and other Soroptimist initiatives on the North Shore.
The night was more than a fundraiser—it was a celebration of community, connection, and the powerful impact of women helping women.
Thank you to the Team!
We give our heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary Lobster Dinner Fundraising Team:
Left to right:
Veronica Loat, Una Kerin, Hanneke Eyres, Jane Oulton, Lourdes Rodríguez de Hall and (Diana Palmer not pictured)