Events
Although we are busy all year advocating for equality and providing important services to our community, we make time each and every year to hold annual events in which we celebrate, advocate and remember. Included below is a list of our annual events, for current information on upcoming events please see our newsletter or twitter feed.
International Women's Day - March 8th
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.
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International Women's Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.
Rehteah Parsons Memorial Walk - April
Each April we commemorate the life of Rehteah Parsons. Rehtaeh Parsons died by suicide April 7,2013 at the young age of seventeen years old preceded by seventeen months of struggle. At a time when Rehtaeh was putting together the bricks and mortar of who she would become – she was sexually assaulted then socially assassinated.
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During this walk we focus on the work we must do to educate our community and our children about consent and cyber bullying.
Slut Walk - Summer
Slut Walk is an event calling for an end to rape culture, including victim blaming and slut shaming of sexual assault victims. Specifically, participants protest against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman's appearance. The rallies began on April 3, 2011, in Toronto, after a Toronto police officer suggested that "women should avoid dressing like sluts" as a precaution against sexual assault.
Camp Ohana - August
Camp Ohana is a summer camp experience for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. This safe and inclusive space has a focus on eliminating discrimination on the basis of gender, sex and sexuality status, promoting education and awareness of issues affecting sexual and gender minorities and providing opportunities for youth leadership. For more information please email campohana01@gmail.com.
Take Back the Night March - September
Take Back The Night is the earliest worldwide movement to stand against sexual violence, especially violence against women. TBTN Events began in the 1960’s in Belgium and England with protests about how women were not able to be safe walking down the street alone. Since these early events TBTN has grown into hundreds of events in communities of all sizes and locations. The unifying theme of these events is to bring awareness to sexual violence and provide support for victims.
Girl's Empowerment Workshop - Fall
In an effort to educate, empower and inspire local teen girls, we hold an annual workshop. At the workshop the teens build upon their existing communication skills and cultivate self-respect. Within this safe space there is a focus on mental and physical well-being for the girls today and as they develop into adulthood.
Person's Day - October 18th
October 18th marks the day in 1929 when the historic decision to include women in the legal definition of “persons” was handed down by Canada’s highest court of appeal. This gave women the right to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and paved the way for women's increased participation in public and political life.
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The case was brought before the court of appeal by the famous five: Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards. In declaring women persons Lord Sankey stated: "And to those who would ask why the word ‘person’ should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?”
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National Day of Remembrance Vigil - December 6th
On December 6th, 1989 a lone gunman entered a mechanical engineering classroom at Montreal's École Polytechnique. He separated the women from the men and opened fire on the women, yelling "you are all feminists". That day fourteen women were murdered and thirteen other people were injured.
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Every year we hold a vigil on December 6th to remember the lives of Geneviève Bergeron; Hélène Colgan; Nathalie Croteau; Barbara Daigneault; Anne-Marie Edward; Maud Haviernick; Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz; Maryse Laganière; Maryse Leclair; Anne-Marie Lemay; Sonia Pelletier; Michèle Richard; Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.
