Following the announcement, members of the Ladies Night Committee joined McPhail, Moores and Mayor Leroux for a photograph. From the left: Judy McPhail, Renee Moores, Helen Edwards, Karine Boucher, Tania Costa, Jen Chambers, Amber Armstrong, Josée Nugent and Mayor Pierre Leroux. Absent from photo: Marley Ranson, Sarah Dupont and Michelle St. Pierre. Thompson Goddard Photo
RUSSELL – The 18th annual Russell Ladies Night will be held on May 5, 2024, in the Russell arena and will be a fundraiser for Naomi’s Family Resource Centre in Winchester as well as the Russell Agricultural Society. It was announced during the launch event that tickets were to go on sale March 8, International Women’s Day in 2024, with 500 offered for sale.
“This year as I mentioned, this is our 18th annual event. Since 2004 we have raised over $450,000 for worthy causes, but more importantly brought awareness by supporting a different cause each year which matters to women in our community along with supporting the Russell Fair.” said Judy McPhail, Ladies Night committee chair, during her welcoming remarks to the kick-off event in Russell on March 7.
The criteria when choosing which organization would be supported by the Russell Ladies Night included bringing awareness, how it makes a difference and “what can we do that would make an impact for our women in our community and being fun.”
Renee Moores, Executive Director at Naomi’s Family Resource Centre (Naomi’s House), mentioned “a sampling of female trailblazers” as well as mentioning her close ties to the Russell community.
“Naomi’s House is a women led, women serving charitable agency, led by a dedicated group of volunteer Board of Directors from our community” said Moores. She continued how the agency provides “a 9-bed emergency shelter for rural women with or without dependents, who are fleeing intimate partner violence and provide hope and opportunities to women”.
Township of Russell Mayor Pierre Leroux proudly promotes this event as it provides the opportunity to not only raise funds for the local organization selected but, also raises awareness in the community, noting how “it is our pleasure to assist with the event.”
McPhail thanked the sponsors of the event for their support, as well as the members of her committee for their dedicated work towards making this another successful event.
More information on Naomi’s Family Resource Centre can be found at www.naomiscentre.ca.
Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.
