What is Soroptimist International?

Soroptimist International is a worldwide organization for women in management and the professions; working through service projects to improve all aspects of the community.

The word Soroptimist was coined from two Latin words, “soror” and “optima” which loosely translates as “best for women”.

The organization was started in Oakland, California, in 1921.

Today Soroptimist International headquarters are located in Cambridge, England and is comprised of four federations with approximately 100,000 members in about 120 countries.

Who is a Soroptimist?

Soroptimists are women of all ages, cultures and ethnic groups. They are working moms and single women; small business owners and corporate executives; attorneys, teachers and physicians. Soroptimists are leaders across all professional disciplines that also serve as role models for younger women at the beginning of their careers.

The common thread that connects all Soroptimists is their desire to make a difference for others through volunteer service.

Soroptimist International of Hamilton-Burlington

Welcome from our President

Welcome! Thank you for visiting our site! Our group is made up of women from Hamilton, Burlington and the surrounding areas. Ultimately, our goal as a volunteer organization is to make a difference in the lives of women and girls who face challenges as they strive to improve their lives and that of their family through education. Each year and with that purpose, we have  organized fund raising events such as the Hamilton Public Library Book Sale or the Toonie Auction. The proceeds from these events have enabled us to fund programs and initiatives relating to our mandate. Being a member of Soroptimist also offers the benefits of friendship and personal fulfillment. We gratefully accept donations which are tax deductible, as we are a charitable organisation. We hope to see you soon – at a meeting or at one of our events throughout the year

Danielle McKirgan

Our Purpose: We are committed to do what we can to improve the lives of women and girls in our community and around the world.

Soroptimist International of Hamilton-Burlington was chartered on November 3, 1979. We are one of several clubs within Eastern Canada Region and part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, the largest of the four federations within Soroptimist International.

We work in committees to create programs, provide grants and organize fundraisers with the goal of helping women and girls in our local community of Hamilton and Burlington. We achieve this by supporting the following programs and organisations: Live your Dream (LYD), Education and Training Awards for Women, which is also  our  signature program; Young Women Empowered (YWE); Regina’s Place of  Good Shepherd Hamilton; City Kidz Hamilton; Out of the Cold; Hamilton Public Library Summer Reading, and Carole Anne’s Place of YWCA . We also help internationally alongside the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Umoyo Girls School in Africa. We are committed to equality, social justice, and inclusiveness in the workplace and in society in general, to ending domestic violence, stopping human trafficking, and preserving our environment.

More about us

You can find more information about our history, our activities, our values:

• From our Power Point : Link
• From our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoroptimistInternationalOfHamiltonBurlington/
• SI Hamilton-Burlington is part of the Eastern Canada Region (ECR), https://www.ecsoroptimist.org/)
•  under the umbrella of SI of the Americas (SIA), https://www.soroptimistinternational.org/about-us/our-federations/sia

Our Pledge

We are Soroptimist committed to the sincerity of friendship, the joy of achievement, the dignity of service, the integrity of profession, the love of country. We will put forth our greatest efforts to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Contact Us

Meetings for our club are held on the second Wednesday of each month. During the Pandemic, meetings continue to take place, albeit on ZOOM.

Who are we?

We are women from the community. We come  from different professions and backgrounds, but we are united in our commitment to the well being of women and girls.

Our Board and our responsibilities :

 Danielle McKirgan –President, Public Awareness

Theresa Randles – Past President, Membership, Live Your Dream Awards, Advisor, Partnerships

Margaret MacRae – Past-president, Program co-chair, Events,  Advisor

Pat McNeice – Program co-chair, President’s Appea, International Communication, Midwifery Program.

Deborah Polkinghorn – Treasurer, Fundraising Chair, Events.

Maroussia Ahmed – Recording secretary,  Community relations, Website update.

Helen Otrosina – Secretary, Archives, Coordinator  of meetings,Events.

Sylvia Thomson – Goodwill & Fellowship, Events

Millie Panton, International Communications,  Advisor

Trisha Gunpath – Facebook Design and Maintenance,  Canada  Help  Fundraising

Doreen Horbach – Events, Fundraising, Advisor.

Marion Cavassin – Communications, Advisor

Are you interested in helping or joining Soroptimist International of Hamilton-Burlington?      

If you are interested in becoming a member or a supporter of the Soroptimist International of Hamilton-Burlington, information is available by emailing: sihamilton.burlington@soroptimist.net You can also fill a short form to indicate the level of participation you wish to offer, and send it as an attachment to the above address:

Form (Link)