Paula Eskenazi is the Director of Publicity for CPC Halifax Citadel, the Halifax chapter of the Canadian Progress Club, a women’s club chartered in 1988 with a mandate to support women’s and children’s charities across HRM. Paula joined in 2024, relatively new to Nova Scotia and looking for a way to put down roots while making a real difference in her adopted community.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Founded in 1922, The Canadian Progress Club is a dynamic fellowship of charitable-minded Canadians who are passionate and committed to strengthening our communities through hands-on service and fundraising, to benefit those in need. We have no political or religious affiliations. Nationally, the Canadian Progress Club is one of the largest non-corporate sponsors of Special Olympics Canada. The Halifax Citadel chapter was chartered in 1988 as a women’s club with a mandate to support women’s & children’s charities in HRM.
What problem does it aim to solve?
CPC Halifax Citadel supports women and children through a variety of funding initiatives. We have our charitable grant process, where registered charities apply for funding directly raised at one of our signature fundraisers. We have our Spread the Joy program, where we provide smaller gift amounts to charities and to community organizations, along with gifts to schools who can distribute to families in need at their discretion. We provide bursaries to two graduating high school students each year to help with their post-secondary education costs. Last year, we did our first Sneakers for Students initiative, where we were able to fulfill the footwear needs of 7 elementary and junior high schools, ensuring that over 85 kids in our local community have the footwear they need to safely participate in physical education classes.
Aside from the financial support, we also contribute over 2,000 hours of hands-on volunteer service annually with a large variety of community partners. Our members bring professionalism and expertise to other charities’ fundraisers
When did you start/join it?
I joined in January 2024
What made you want to get involved?
I was relatively new to Nova Scotia and was looking for a way to meet people while supporting the community in my new home. I met a long-time member at another volunteer event who explained CPC Halifax Citadel to me. She told me that there is a focus on collaborative fundraising, volunteering, and sisterhood. After attending my first meeting, I knew this was a place where I could make an impact alongside some very special, like-minded women.
What was the situation like when you started?
CPC Halifax Citadel had established credibility with many of our partner charities: Phoenix Youth Services, Chisholm for Children, HomeBridge Youth Society, and more, but we were not very well-known by the general public. We had moved on from some of our long-standing events and were fortunate to be in a position of growth when so many service clubs are in decline. We needed to evolve our identity to remain relevant and continue to support our community.
How has it changed since?
We have put several initiatives into place to increase our public awareness and credibility, including working more closely with our partner charities and sponsors. We have built strong relationships with the school communities through our Spread the Joy program, and more recently, our Sneakers for Students initiative. Our Community Service committee has done an excellent job of proactively reaching out to new community partners to offer our support, further increasing our impact. There has also been a very intentional look at our membership: how do we grow and retain our membership? The work that we do as a Club requires a tremendous amount of effort on the part of all of our members. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated membership base, and ensure that any women looking to join us are able to take on the commitment.
What more needs to be done?
The need in our community is ever-growing, with rising rates of poverty and food insecurity disproportionately affecting families with children. While we are ultimately a small charity, the small impacts that we can have for families can sometimes make all the difference for them. We need to continue evolving our events and bring new initiatives forward while maintaining relationships with our partner charities. We need to continue building a pipeline of new members who can bring fresh ideas, perspectives, and abilities to our team.
How can our readers help?
Readers can support us simply following us on social media! We do two major fundraisers every year: Girls Night Out in April and our Charity Golf Classic in September, along with a variety of smaller fundraisers throughout the year. Where possible, we do silent auctions online, so even those not attending our events can support. You’ll find us at Rock the Harbour this August, where all of the tips at the bar will go to our Charitable Foundation. Supporting any of the incredible businesses who sponsor our events is another great way to close the loop and impact this generous community.
Do you have any events coming up?
Our 6th Annual Charity Golf Classic will take place on September 10, 2026 at River Oaks Golf Club in the Musquodoboit Valley. This year, funds raised will primarily support Family SOS, with additional funds supporting Chebucto Connections and PACT (Parents and Children Together). Join us as a golfer for a great day of fun on the course or as a sponsor to help support our mission! We will also have a silent auction online with some incredible prizes, so keep an eye on our social media even if you aren’t attending the event.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
Catapult Leadership Society – They provide a world-class leadership experience for youth who demonstrate natural leadership potential but face barriers to opportunity. Nominated by their Grade 9 teachers, participants spend a transformational week at Acadia University developing leadership skills, teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and confidence that will serve them for years to come.
