Connecting Camosun Women and All Women on International Women’s Day, 2024

This year marks my first International Women’s Day as the Co-Chair of the CCFA-sponsored Women & Gender Equity Committee (WGEC). I have had the immense pleasure and honour of working together with my Co-Chair Courtney Neidig, and in collaboration with committee members, the Camosun Library, the Camosun College Student Society (CCSS), and the Office of Student Support (OSS), to share information, raise awareness, mark special days of significance for women and promote gender equity and inclusion.

For International Women’s Day, these collaborations led to starting off our celebrations yesterday with an uplifting event, “Connecting Camosun Women” Tea & Chat, including a stimulating panel discussion featuring some esteemed Camosun women: Laura Mitchell, Director Student Affairs; Dee McNeil, Assistant to the Executive Director at Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen; Tehmina Khwaja, Director Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Debbie Hlady, Dean of Arts & Science.  The discussion was co-moderated by Elva Gutierrez, Women’s Director at the Camosun College Student Society, and myself, representing WGEC.

Today, March 8, we are marking International Women’s Day by connecting with the women of Camosun at tables on each campus, staffed by CCSS and WGEC volunteers, with information and fun take-aways to promote this important day. The WGEC will be providing flowers to passersby to spread the celebratory spirit and honour our women students and colleagues. Look for us in front of the Campus Centre at Interurban and inside the Fisher lobby at Lansdowne!

Camosun’s Women & Gender Equity Committee (WGEC)

This year, after some stumbling through the pandemic, WGEC (“wijik”) is coming together again to reconnect and revive our commitments to undertake strategies and activities for increasing diversity and achieving equity in our unions, institutions, and communities for people of marginalized genders and sexualities, including women and 2SLGBTQIA+ people (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, plus non-binary and other self-definitions), and to fight the social stigma affecting all women and 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and especially trans people, in order to end the systemic discrimination and gender-based violence (GBV) that occurs based on sexual orientation, sex characteristics, and gender identity and expression. WGEC is always excited to welcome new members!

The CCFA-sponsored Women and Gender Equity Committee is open to all Camosun College employees. If you would like to learn more about it or join, contact us!

Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress

Each year, the United Nations chooses a theme for International Women’s Day, focusing our attention and energy in ways that are relevant and significant. For 2024, the UN theme, and the theme promoted by the Government of Canada, is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”.

The official website of UN Women invites us to take a stand and join the conversation with the #InvestInWomen hashtag. The site emphasizes five key areas of focus for action:

• Investing in women: A human rights issue
• Ending poverty 
• Implementing gender-responsive financing
• Shifting to a green economy and care society
• Supporting feminist change-makers

Visit the UN Women announcement about this year’s theme to learn more about each of these calls to action. Check out the International Women’s Day page for more compelling stories, data, and strategies to drive positive change.

For some ways to learn more about Canadian women and gender equality in Canada, WAGE Canada suggests the following resources:

• Learn more about inspiring Canadian women and gender equality in Canada:
  • Explore the Women in Canadian History: A Timeline showcasing the achievements of Canadian women in various fields such as politics, sciences, and the arts.
  • Consult the Gender equality timeline for an overview of gender equality milestones in Canada.
• Watch Heritage Minutes videos on inspiring Canadian women.

Inspire Inclusion

Another important organization doing good work for women is the International Women’s Day website. This website aims to “support the supporters, and to encourage worldwide engagement and collective action in advancing women’s equality.” This year’s theme from InternationalWomensDay.com is Inspire Inclusion. The website is a valuable repository of information and resources.

What can YOU do?

Last year on International Women’s Day, our awesome union president, Lynelle Yutani, put out a call for personalized action, focusing on what you can do with where you are, what you have, and the emotional and mental strength you can spare. Lynelle shared an empowering message from the International Women’s Day website:

“No matter what you do, your choice of IWD activity is valid and impactful. That’s what makes IWD inclusive.“

There is no end to the important actions we can all take to celebrate International Women’s Day. You may want to engage in action for change, honour and uplift women, or take time for reflection and remembrance. What makes this day significant for you?

• Or, maybe you could seek to lobby government for better legislation, services, facilities, or access.
• Or maybe you want to coordinate a gathering of colleagues to reflect on much-needed action in the workplace.
• Perhaps your artistic spirit is crying out to build and create something of vibrant meaning.  
• Or possibly you want to attend an event to feel motivated and empowered by an inspiring speaker.  
• Or maybe you just want to quietly get your girlfriends together and connect over some heartwarming food, refreshments, and supportive conversation.

Again, and bolder! No matter what you do, your choice of IWD activity is valid and impactful. That’s what makes IWD inclusive.

Talking about gender issues, raising awareness, building solidarity, sharing different perspectives, offering support – are all key in the journey to women’s equality.

There is no right or wrong way to mark IWD. Just as we should never try to control how a woman can think, or what she can wear, or who she can be, or what she can say – do not let any group or individual criticize, invalidate or judge your choice of IWD activity and narrative for it is this sheer diversity of activity, and the varied participation of all, that makes IWD truly inclusive and impactful.

The Centre for Diversity & Inclusion has created a guide, available in the CCDI Knowledge Repository, to help organizations understand and commemorate this important date: Commemoration guide: International Women’s Day.

Together we can do more than imagine a gender-equal world. We can build a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #InspireInclusion.

Every day this month, celebrate women’s achievements. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity all year round.

Looking for more resources?

• Visit the Camosun Library’s online resource guide
• Check out all the great content, including the history of International Women’s Day at https://www.internationalwomensday.com/About!
• And take some time to explore the UN Women International Women’s Day page.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Sarah McCagherty (שרה רנה)

Co-CCFA rep on the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) Women and Gender Equity Committee and Co-Chair of the Camosun Women and Gender Equity Committee

With a fiery passion for social justice and community service, Sarah is on a mission to fuel change and ignite action! She’s a fierce advocate for human rights and gender equality. Sarah is also a dedicated member of the Camosun Anti-Racism & Decolonization Action Committee, stoking the fire for equity, inclusion, and social action, and a Board member of Jewish Family Services of Vancouver Island (JFSVI), sparking change in the fight against food insecurity, social isolation, and poverty.