Media Club of Canada : The Canadian Women's Press Club (CWPC) was established on 24 June 1904 during the historic excursion of sixteen women journalists to the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. The women were escorted by Colonel George Ham, Publicity Director of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Previously, the CPR had taken only male journalists as their guests on these writing assignments covering major world events. While returning from this trip, Colonel Ham and thirteen of the women decided to form a national association for female writers and illustrators. Kathleen Blake (Kit) Coleman was elected as the club's first president and Colonel George Ham was given the position of honorary president. The CWPC was formally organized at the Second General Meeting in Winnipeg during 8-9 June 1906, when the constitution was drawn up and a new club president was chosen. Annual meetings were held each year until 1913, when the club switched to triennial meetings. Then, except during the war years, the club met nationally every three years. During the 1970s, the pattern shifted in favour of biennial meetings.
The club was governed by an elected Board of Directors which met annually. Standing committees were created by the Board of Directors such as the By-Laws Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Beneficiary Fund Committee, the Members' Memorial Awards Committee, and the "Newspacket" Committee. The "Newspacket" was published quarterly as the club's official publication. Local branches were formed so that monthly meetings could be held for members across the country, but branch members were required to be national members as well. Club activities included conducting seminars and workshops as well as social functions. In 1935, the Members' Memorial Awards were established for Canadian women writers. These awards are the oldest newspaper awards given in Canada. The club was also involved in journalism on an international level. In 1955, the CWPC conducted a fact finding tour to the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Soviet Union, and in 1958 they sent a female journalist to represent Canada on a NATO sponsored trip to Paris. The Media Club of Canada was a member organization of the Canadian Commission for Unesco, the Canadian Centenary Council, and the Royal Agricultural Hall of Fame.
The CWPC was incorporated in 1958 by a Special Act of Parliament and it opened a national head office in Ottawa in 1968. The club opened its membership in 1971 to all men and women engaged in the writing profession for the paper press, radio, television and film industries; as well as publicity and advertising writers; authors, playwrights, illustrators, and photographers; information writers for government and educational purposes and business; and teachers of communication arts. To reflect this important change, it changed its name to the Media Club of Canada, Inc. - Club Media Du Canada, Inc. As a national professional association for Canadian writers and related professionals, its objectives were to unite all persons engaged in the communication media in Canada; to provide an organization available for consultation by government and other bodies; to work for free and responsible expression through the communication media; to develop and maintain high professional standards; to promote and protect the interests of its members; and to encourage the understanding of Canada both at home and abroad.
The activities of the national organization gradually declined in the 1980s and 1990s as the membership aged but the local clubs in Ottawa and Hamilton remained active. They came together in 2004 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding with a conference in Ottawa. As part of the celebration, the clubs collected historical records for donation to Library and Archives Canada.
