Projects will highlight women of Collingwood’s history, female entrepreneurs, and panellists dedicated to advocacy and leading the way in their field
NEWS RELEASE
TOWN OF COLLINGWOOD
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The Town of Collingwood will honour this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) March 8th with a series of special initiatives dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
The celebrations begin with the ceremonial Flag Raising & Proclamation Ceremony on March 4 at the Collingwood Public Library. In recognition of inequities that women continue to face, including the disproportionate violence suffered by women, the Town of Collingwood has once again partnered on this observance with My Friend’s House, Collingwood’s safe haven for abused women and their children.
Next, take in the Women in Local History Project, a downtown lamppost exhibit, highlighting Women in Local History from March 4th to 13th. Ten signs celebrating business owners, war-workers, medical professionals, and sports heroes will be displayed along Hurontario Street. This exhibit is produced in partnership with the Collingwood Museum and Sheffield Park Black History and Cultural Museum.
Also taking place March 4 to 13, the Collingwood Downtown Business Improvement Area is celebrating phenomenal women-led businesses that are an integral part of the fabric of Collingwood’s wonderful downtown core. Woman Behind the Business Posters will be hung in business windows throughout the downtown, featuring pictures of the amazing female entrepreneurs behind the businesses and information about the why behind their ventures.
All posters will also be available online linked to the Collingwood Downtown website for you to read at your leisure as you discover the depth of the female entrepreneurial spirit in our community. As you explore downtown, you will also receive a free gift with purchase from participating merchants; Bookmarks with quotes by female Canadian poets/songwriters have been distributed and many will also include a unique incentive from each business.
On March 8, a Virtual Panel Discussion will take place at noon. All are welcome to register for this free Zoom event featuring a panel of extraordinary individuals who will share their experiences and facilitate an open discussion exploring what it means to #BreakTheBias of gender inequity, this year’s IWD theme.
This year’s speakers are:
- Marcia Alderson, a singer, real estate agent, advocate for change in the Black community in Collingwood, and a proud member of the Unity Collective poised to inspire world change, community growth and the acceptance of all people all day, everyday.
- Muckpaloo Ipeelie, an Inuit cultural teacher, public speaker, and owner/operator of “The Urban Inuit Identity Project”. Muckpaloo is a Medical Laboratory Technologist helping to bridge the gap between Inuit people and the circle of care by being proactive against systemic racism and changing the stigma against Indigenous people.
- Dr. Marissa Rodway-Norman, a senior psychiatrist with more than 30 years of clinical experience and has assisted or led research resulting in the establishment of the North Simcoe Muskoka Trans Health Care Hub of Orillia. She has also spear-headed educational opportunities about trans-medicine and has served as a research consultant to the Gilbert Centre of Barrie, Laurentian University, and the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health.
- Jill Proud, the facilitator of the session, who has coached and mentored high achieving leaders from seasoned entrepreneurs to Olympic athletes for over 20 years and launched the Women Presidents’ Organization South Georgian Bay Chapter.
Take this opportunity to listen to and learn from these impressive individuals of strength, courage, and hope who have been instrumental in bringing about change in a world still learning to #BreaktheBias. With this virtual event being free to participate, the Town of Collingwood encourages participants, in lieu of a ticket purchase, to consider donating to one of the charities of choice selected by this year’s speakers:
To register for the panel discussion or for more information on International Women’s Day, please visit www.collingwood.ca/IWD.
Since 2019, the Town of Collingwood has been recognizing International Women’s Day annually on March 8th because we believe in gender equity and seek to improve the lives of all women and girls (trans and cis), two spirit, and gender diverse peoples through cultural, legal, economic, and social change.
Collingwood’s International Women’s Day celebrations are proudly sponsored by Devonleigh Homes, RBC Dominion Securities, RBC Royal Bank of Canada, Miller Thomson LLP, Collingwood Foundry, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #63, Eager Beaver Services, Baker Tilly and an anonymous community donor.
About the 2022 International Women’s Day Theme #BreaktheBias
A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day! Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality and collectively, we can all #BreakTheBias.
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