At CIWA, we believe that for celebrating women’s incredible achievements and promoting gender equality takes more than one day. That’s why we’ve dedicated a whole week to recognizing women’s achievements in all aspects of life and continuing our efforts to promote gender equity. We hosted a range of activities and initiatives throughout the week to empower women and celebrate their unique journeys.
On March 6th, we co-hosted a joint event with The51/Movement51 and Women in Need Society (WINS), where we celebrated the power of collective action and the importance of supporting women from all walks of life.
On March 8th, we awarded the Siebens Jeam International Women’s Day Scholarship Fund to two remarkable women, Paula Moore-Simpson and Oby Ezenwamelaku, who are pursuing their dreams and making a positive impact in their communities.
Today, conversations are ongoing about the role of women in societies of the past, about how things are now, and what they should look like into the future. As the CEO of the largest immigrant serving organization with a gender-specific mandate in Canada, I reflect on these issues every day and am thankful for the progress that has been made to date and the success stories that give us reason to celebrate. I am all too aware of the progress that has not yet been made and how some of the barriers that immigrant women faced a generation ago are still in place today.
We also hosted an event with the Civic Engagement Program for LINC students, where we came together to celebrate gender equity, democracy, and freedom. It was inspiring to see the students share their stories and perspectives and to witness the power of education in empowering women to achieve their goals.
On March 10th, we wrapped up our celebrations with an event at the Family Resource Network, where we learned about the importance of self-care and mindfulness in supporting women’s well-being and growth.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us in celebrating International Women’s Day and we are committed to continuing our work in empowering women and promoting gender equity. Thank you for being part of this important movement.