We welcome you to come and join us for an evening of networking with current and potential members, along with global entrepreneurial businesswomen, good friends, renowned performers and special guests for our annual GroYourBiz Christmas celebration!

Enjoy a pleasant mix of business, connections, inspiring entertainment, and a delicious buffet!  This year we are offering you a Holiday Shopping Experience with a Silent Auction, with a portion going to a great cause by supporting women and girls in Afghanistan. Interested? Contact Barbara for details.

This is a great way to KICK OFF the festive season and celebrate wins from 2023 and highlights we can look forward to in 2024.

When: Tuesday, December 5th, 5 – 9 PM

Where: Vancouver Lawn & Tennis Club, 1630 W. 15 Ave, Vancouver

Cost: $90 + Tax, Includes Festive Season Dinner Buffer, Entertainment, Networking

Lynn Johnston

Lynn Johnston is the Canadian creator of the comic strip, For Better or For Worse. This family-based series has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. At its peak, For Better or For Worse appeared in more than 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries, and was translated into 8 languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million.

Johnston was born in Collingwood, Ontario and grew up in British Columbia.  After living in Manitoba and Ontario for many years, she now calls North Vancouver, BC home once again.  Johnston was the first woman to receive a Rueben Award for Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonist Society in 1986.  She has also received the Order of Canada, and claims a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. In 2008, Johnston retired from For Better or For Worse, at which time the comic strip was republished from the beginning and is now in its 12^th year of reruns.

In 2015, Johnston was honoured by the Art Gallery of Sudbury, Ontario with a touring exhibit of her work. In 2019, the Embassy of Canada in Washington, DC showcased Johnston’s work in a gallery exhibit.

Friba Rezayee

Friba Rezayee is the founder and the Executive Director of Women Leaders of Tomorrow and its leadership in sports project GOAL (Girls of Afghanistan Lead). She was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. At the age of 18, she made history by competing in Judo at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as Afghanistan’s first ever female Olympic athlete.

Friba’s participation in the Olympics brought Afghanistan back to the world stage in sports after the fall of the Taliban. She inspired hundreds of other Afghan girls to join different sports, in a sports revolution for Afghan female athletes.

Friba has resided in Vancouver, Canada since 2011 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Friba has been an outspoken and passionate advocate for women and girls’ education, gender equality, human rights, and women’s rights in Afghanistan and worldwide from an early age to present. She also worked as an educator in the Vancouver, Canada public school system.

Friba is currently working as the manager of the Afghan Women’s Employment Program at YWCA Metro Vancouver area.

In addition to that, she has NCCP level 1 certificate in the sports of Judo, along with certificate to teach women self defense from Judo Canada.

And it has just been announced that Friba will be IWF BC’s first candidate to receive a Fellowship offered by the IWF Women’s Fellows Program for the 2023/24 cohort.

We are thrilled Friba will join us to share her story with you – a story of courage and leadership and how Friba is paying it forward….and how you can play a role.

The Langley Ukulele Association

Enriching Lives Through Music since 1981, The Langley Ukulele Association is a team of young musicians, ambassadors, volunteers, and alumni who provide opportunities to inspire, model leadership, and demonstrate excellence by enriching lives through entertaining, musical presentations, as well as local and worldwide interactions.

The ukulele program got its start in the Langley School District during the 1970’s when ukulele was incorporated as part of the music offerings in the Langley School District. To help motivate students, and to offer further opportunity to them “Honour Groups” were established.

Taking over from Peter Luongo, current directors and previous members of the ensembles, Paul Luongo and Elizabeth Zielke, carry on the vision of igniting powerful leaders and creating awe inspiring experiences.

After 35 years of enriching lives through music, a group of ukulele alumni got together to celebrate the association’s milestone. Once reconnected, the alumni group wondered why they didn’t get together more often and stayed connected to plan more events with some socialization and ukulele playing!