The Asper Network of Empowered Women (ANEW) had their Women & Wellness Week from Nov. 17 to 22. The week started with free coffee and treats before giveaway baskets and a bake sale, followed by a sip and craft night in the middle of the week. It ended with Lagree classes at The Fitual.

During the sip and craft night, attendees made friendship bracelets while enjoying refreshments, and a variety of cupcakes, cake pops and cookies were available for purchase at the bake sale.

This initiative supported local women-owned businesses, and all the funds from the bake sale and the Lagree classes went toward the Women’s Health Clinic in Winnipeg.

Their giveaway baskets featured six different women-owned businesses, and three winners had the chance to receive a party-planning basket and a self-care basket.

Miranda Harder, ANEW president, mentioned how the club had been inactive for a while, and this was a way to re-introduce the club.

“It was great to hear that a lot of people are looking forward to having that kind of women-based community in Asper,” she said. Harder also mentioned how ANEW is not just for Asper students but open to everyone. They have student participants from different faculties such as the science department, nursing program and University 1.

Even though their events are more business and networking-oriented, everyone is welcome at ANEW.

“It was great to see the excitement on people’s faces that the club existed. […] I did a presentation [about ANEW] in the morning, and then right after a girl heard [and] she was all excited,” Harder mentioned. She added the girl was happy she found a community she could be a part of.

“It was heartwarming to see […] a big group of people that didn’t all know each other, but everyone is all interacting,” she said. This initiative was a chance for people to come together, get to know one another, make friends and create a community, which a lot of women in the Asper community felt was lacking. “We didn’t really have a space to meet new people and feel included,” Harder explained.

ANEW is “always looking for new members.” They will have another sip and craft night soon, and they are open to event suggestions through their membership form. Their main vision is to create community.