Our CWL members and friends are proud of our “Freda Smith Bursary”. However, many people ask: who is Freda Smith” and why does this bursary honour her”?

Freda Smith was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL). The League was a huge part of her life and she rarely missed a meeting or special event. However, her participation in the League didn’t stop there.  She stepped up and served on many levels of our League as Parish Council President, was chair of Diocesan level portfolios and, finally, was Provincial secretary and a Life Member. In short, she dedicated her life addressing social justice issues, people in need and did whatever needed to be done through her life in the CWL. 

It is said that Freda was never at a loss for words. She always had wise advice on any issue. She passed this off as “just common sense”. Freda’s sense was anything but common.

Freda and her husband were immigrants to Canada and worked on their prairie farm during the “dirty thirties”. This was the time of the Great Depression where there was no work and even less money. Freda understood the value of a good education whether public or spiritual and set out to help young people receive good Catholic instruction even though these young people were scattered all over Saskatchewan. Remember that this was the time before computers or the internet. So, Freda helped the Sisters of Service to set up religious education by correspondence. It was at this time of desperate community need that she joined the CWL.

When war broke out in 1939, Freda’s husband joined the navy. So, the family packed up their bags and moved to Victoria. They joined Queen of Peace Parish in Esquimalt and became involved in their new parish’s activities. For example, Freda was an accomplished organist and played for masses, weddings, funerals and other special events. She did this right up until she turned 85.

And if this wasn’t enough, Freda and her husband raised two daughters, who attended St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria. Freda developed a close relationship with the Sisters of St. Anne. In fact, the Smith home became a “home away from home” for many students who came from far away to attend this excellent school. 

As if Freda still didn’t have enough to do, she worked with families who were experiencing difficulties, new mothers and their babies and actively supported missions from around the world.

To sum it up, Freda’s life spanned the entire Twentieth Century. She came to this country as an immigrant, lived through tough times which saw drought, depression, war and a very real fear for the life of her husband. Yet, this woman served others, her faith community, her CWL parish and the diocesan and provincial councils. She was there for just about everyone who was in need. Freda exemplified the Christian ideal in her home and family life, supported Christian education and contributed to what we people of the Twenty-First Century now call social justice. But, I think if Freda were asked about all it, she would simply call it “just common sense.” We call it “Catholic and Living it”.

The Victoria Diocesan Catholic Women’s League is proud to dedicate our Bursary in Memory of Freda Smith.

The application form for this bursary will be posted soon.