International Women's Day
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March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD). IWD is a global day recognizing and celebrating women’s and girls’ social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. IWD is also a time to raise awareness of the progress made towards achieving gender equality and the work remaining to be done.
What is International Women's Day?
The beginnings of International Women's Day can be traced back to the early twentieth century. It emerged from the activities of labour movements in North America and Europe and reflected a growing call for women’s equal participation in society. International Women's Day first took place on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. That day, over a million women and men attended public events to show their support. Other countries began to observe and celebrate this day in the years that followed. The United Nations recognized 1975 as International Women's Year and began celebrating March 8 as International Women's Day.
Today, International Women's Day is a day of unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action and is celebrated in many countries worldwide. This year, International Women's Day marks its call to action with a number of Missions:
International Women's Day Toolkit
Help mark International Women's Day in your community. Visit the IWD website to download digital tools and resources to help you celebrate IWD in Quinte West and accelerate women's equality with activities throughout the year.
Government of Canada resources
This year, the Government of Canada’s IWD theme is Women Inspiring Women. It celebrates all the women and girls who inspire us by demonstrating leadership in the choices they make in their day-to-day lives to contribute to the social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. We encourage you to join the conversation and celebrate International Women's Day using the information and resources shared in the Government of Canada's International Women Day’s toolkit.
Celebrating International Women's Day in Quinte West
Quinte West Public Library celebrates March is Women's History Month
Celebrate the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society! Prepare your March reading list with the help of the Quinte West Public Library. Stop into any branch of the Quinte West Library to browse inspiring stories and books by women authors.
Visit the Quinte West City Hall branch and follow QWPL on Facebook to see the interactive 'That's What She Said' display featuring interesting and important quotes by famous women.
Celebrate International Women's Day with the Trenval Business Development Corporation
Join the Trenval Business Development Corporation and Loyalist College at an event recognizing and celebrating motivational Quinte West women in entrepreneurship.
March 2, 2023
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Loyalist College Shark Tank
Networking begins at 5:00 p.m., presentations and speakers begin at 6 p.m.
Visit the event website or contact 613-961-0590 est. 410 for more information or to purchase tickets.
Camp Molly Quinte applications open March 1
Camp Molly Quinte returns for its second year from July 13 to 16, as a joint initiative between the Quinte West and Belleville Fire and Emergency Services.
This four-day camp gives female youth an inside look at a career in fire and emergency services. Camp Molly participants experience hands-on activities based on Firefighter Level 1 training, including fire investigation and fire dynamics training, medical scenarios, auto extrication, firefighter survival and forcible entry training.
Applications for this year’s camp open March 1. Applicants must be aged 15 to 18, identify as female, and attend a local school. Visit campmolly.ca for more information and follow Camp Molly Quinte on Instagram.
Business and Professional Women Hastings and Prince Edward
Join the Business and Professional Women (BWP) Hastings and Prince Edward at the BWP International Women's Day celebration on March 8 featuring guest speaker Michele Leering and honoured guest Karen Poste
Michele Leering (B.A., LL.B., M.Ad. Ed., PhD. Candidate – Queen’s University) is Community Advocacy and Legal Centre’s (CALC) Executive Director and a lawyer. Initially providing legal services to CALC’s clients as a traditional community lawyer, key commitments since joining CALC in 1985 have included founding a domestic violence services’ coordination network, organizing injured workers, and instigating local participatory action research projects into poverty, homelessness, and, more recently, access to justice, as well as undertaking legal needs and other research. In November 2020, Michele was appointed to the Order of Canada as a Member, which recognizes individuals who have made a difference in the country.
Karen Poste was the City of Belleville’s Manager of Economic Development for 24 years. As Manager of Economic Development Karen helped to keep our community economically stable and moving forward through all the changes. Karen’s goal was to help our new and existing businesses grow and prosper. Just recently, Karen took on a new and exciting position of the Manager of Physician Recruitment and Retention for the City of Belleville. In this new position, Karen will continue to support the City and our community.
3 Oaks Foundation International Women's Day Event
Celebrate International Women's Day with the 3 Oaks Foundation.
March 8, 2023
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Parkdale Community Centre, Birch St., Belleville
Children are welcome. Visit the 3 Oaks Foundation Facebook page for event details.
