Catholic Women's League of Saskatchewan

Back to Executive

Marcella Pedersen

Communications


Marcella Pedersen

Marcella Pedersen is a certified reflexologist, working and teaching in Cut Knife, Unity, Maidstone, North Battleford and Sweetgrass Indian Reservations as well as from her home. I began doing reflexology at 13 years of age, taking the course in 1979, and became certified in 1991. With one year in university/nurses training, I am especially interested in health and food issues. With a background in farming and the National Farmers Union, I am very concerned about farm security and food sovereignty as it relates to health, which is one reason I grow my own chickens. I held positions of NFU local and district presidents, directors and secretaries (1970-1996); and currently Women’s Advisory (Nov. 2009 -) for Region #6 (Sask.). My NFU involvement has fanned out to WIN-S (Women’s Information Network of Sask). I have experience in sales (Tupperware to 1993) for 15 yrs, 6 of which I was manager as well as 12 years in Home Care until 1997.


At an early age, I set a goal to serve God and mankind, even considered being a nun. I have been in an ecumenical bible study group since 1980-2005. I taught catechism for 6 years. Served on Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Pastoral Council (Nov/2001-2006) and continue as the Parish rep. for the Diocesan Pastoral Council and Development & Peace.


Positions held in the CWL:

  • Parish Spiritual Convener (91/92), Organization (93/94), President(95/96); Pres. (07-10); Secretary (2011-)
  • Diocesan Organization/Vice-President (97/98); facilitator for over 10 Grow Projects; and President(99/00); Spiritual Development (05/06)
  • Provincial Communications Chair (2001/02) Spiritual Development (03/04) Resolutions Chair (08/09); Legislation Chair (2009/10), Communications Chair (2011-2013)


I love National Farmers Union canvassing, any kind of embroidery, making church banners, wheat straw weaving, Ukrainian egg decorating, beeswax candle- making, gardening, landscaping and cross-country skiing. I have taught classes locally in most of these areas. I was newsletter editor for the Saskatchewan Embroiderers Guild from 1996-2000; continued on the SEG executive as director, vice-president, and President (2005-07) and returned to Editor in 2007-2011. In 2006 I published my husband’s family history book as well as compiled a history book for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish for their 60th Anniversary.


I am happily married of 39 years to my husband, Gilbert, an agnostic. We have two children: My married son, Yens - 38, is a lawyer in Regina. His wife, Maureen & Yens blessed us with two granddaughters ages 11 & 7. My daughter Karen, 37, is a farmer, that is, beekeeper. Gil & I started out as grain/sheep farmers as well as beekeepers. Eventually beekeeping won out, so that today my husband, daughter and his two brothers run 800 hives and hire 6 -10 student employees. We live in a passive solar heated home with a small wood stove and are very concerned about energy and environmental issues. We joined the North Sask. River Environmental Society in 2009 in a struggle to stop nuclear development as well as to encourage wind and solar energy uses and energy conservation. So in November 2010, our farm installed 4 wind turbines and currently installed solar panels for heating the honey house. I have been an activist all my life, hoping to make a difference.