The International Women’s Day flag at the base of the flag pole at Thunder Bay City Hall. Coun. Paul Pugh and Gwen O’Reilly of the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre raised it to mark International Women’s Day March 8. (Heather Kitching/CBC)
Tuesday is International Women’s Day and there are a number of events in the region to celebrate and mark the event.
9:30 a.m. – Kitchener City Hall
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre is hosting an event called Celebrating mentorship. The event runs until noon. Four local women will speak, including writer and comedian Anne T. Donahue, The Working Centre founder Stephanie Mancini, Plum co-founder Caitlin MacGregor and Dr. Shohini Ghose, an associate professor of physics and computer science.
10 a.m. – Wilfrid Laurier University, RCW lobby
A resource and activism fair has been organized by the Collective for Feminist Action and Research. It will run until 1 p.m. and will feature Laurier’s Diversity and Equity Office, the Women’s Centre, Foot Patrol, Women’s Faculty Colleague and more.
11 a.m. – Kitchener City Hall
Six-time world boxing champion Fitz ‘The Whip’ Vanderpool will be recognized for mentoring and coaching Nicole Vasey, a gold medal champion at the 2016 Brampton Cup. Both Vasey and Vanderpool will be at the event.
11 a.m. – Wilfrid Laurier University, SC Johnson building, room 127
Catherine Stewart, an associate professor in human rights and human diversity and criminology, will give a lecture on the history of International Women’s Day and a discussion of sexual violence. Runs until noon.
11 a.m. – Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford campus, RCW lobby
Students will sit on the floor with lanterns to bring attention to the struggle that girls and young women face around the world when completing their schooling. Donations will be accepted to buy solar lanterns for girls and young women in refugee camps.
12 p.m. – Online session
The National Institutes of Health Informatics is hosting an online panel discussion called Addressing Workplace Challenges in Health Care: Recognition, Parity, Bias, Flexibility, Leadership. Those taking part in the discussion can earn professional education credits. Registration fee required. Experts include Candace Gibson, the assistant dean of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, Helene Clement from Health Informatics Leaders in Canada and Susanne Flett, president of Healthtech Consultants.
2:30 p.m., Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford campus, Odeon building, room 107
Laurier’s activist-in-residence Alex Tigchelaar is hosting a creative activism workshop led by Jane Doe, a sexual assault survivor, activist, author and lecturer. Doe will discuss supporting survivors of sexual assault.
5:30 p.m. – Student Help and Advocacy Centre, University of Guelph
The documentary I Am A Girl will be aired in room 1200 of the Albert A. Thornbrough Building. The film follows the lives of six females aged 17-19 from Cameroon, Cambodia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the United States and Afghanistan.
7 p.m. – P.O.E.T.S., University of Waterloo
A Diva Karaoke Night hosted by the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this week, will be held at the engineering student-run lounge. The event runs until midnight.
7 p.m. – Idea Exchange, Queen’s Square, Cambridge
Four local writers – Catherine Astolfo, Melodie Campbell, Alison Bruce and Joan O’Callaghan – will be part of a panel discussion on crime and mystery writing. The event is free.
Upcoming events
Don’t have time to celebrate today? There are other events coming up.
Thursday – Zonta Guelph is hosting a breakfast from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Italian Canadian Club in Guelph. The event will feature acclaimed storyteller, Sya Van Geest, and keynote speaker Sharmila Setaram, president of the board of directors at Amnesty International. Ticket needed. Visit the Zonta Guelph website for ticket details.
Friday – The Queen of Craft beer series continues with the second session. Hosted by Wellington Brewery, the discussion is being held at Opus Lounge will look at the diversity of each strain and myriad of flavours yeast can impart into beer. Join yeast specialists Anita Caven (microbial enthusiast), Siobhan McPherson (lead brewer at Burdock Brewery in Toronto) and Christina Coady (brewer at Folly Brewing in Toronto). Tickets needed.
March 20 – She Speaks: Women’s Work, Women’s Words is a selection of plays by and about women from all over the world. The afternoon of readings will take place at the Queen’s Square of the Idea Exchange in Cambridge. Starts at 2 p.m. with a discussion to follow.
Heather Kitching/CBC
