Laurel Phyall

St. Patrick’s, campbell River

about maureen ... 

Maureen is from St. Peter's, Nanaimo Council, and is the President of the Diocesan Council, and has been a member of the CWL for 10 years. She cites Blanca Stead, Daisy Mah, and Kathy Weswyck as her mentors in the CWL.

Maureen was born and raised in Armstrong, BC, where she attended St. Joseph's Parish. She has been married to Dwain for 51 years; they have a son and a daughter. Before coming to Vancouver Island, she lived in Prince George, and has volunteered at Birthright and the Christopher Leadership course for many years.

Maureen's career was as a pediatric and premature nurse at St. Paul's hospital in Vancouver, and we're sure her skills, mercy and compassion were a comfort for many parents and children.

Her interests are widely varied: recreational outrigger canoeing, crafting fancy greeting cards, and crocheting prayer shawls (presumably not simultaneously!).

Maureen's 'most interesting activity' is the chance to take part in Convention resolutions. She says, "Our Canadian sisterhood shares many common challenges and when a [CWL] resolution is presented at Parliament or at a provincial legislature, all of Canada benefits."

We asked her, What's the dumbest thing you ever did? Her response floored us: "I wanted to see what it was like inside a kangaroo's pouch. I saw a tiny joey, then wham, the lights went out. She punched hard. Obviously, this was a grievous insult to a momma kangaroo."

When asked what advice she would give to women interested in the CWL, Maureen responded, "The CWL offers faith-based opportunities to learn, and to spread your thinking beyond your comfort zone. The result is a chance to influence the thinking of our parliamentarians with well-thought-out resolutions and articles. We offer training, opportunities to grow, and experience guided with the mentorship of those who have gone before."

Maureen, thank you for sharing your story with us. We are so grateful for your service to the CWL, and for your witness of faith. And ... we'll heed your experience, and do our best not to stick our heads inside a momma kangaroo's pouch!