For more than a century, women have been part of an organized movement to achieve equality in Canadian society.
For eons before that, women have been at the forefront of family, culture and economy - whether male counterparts acknowledged that or not.
To celebrate the improvements in the quest for women's equality (not yet fully attained), the overall contributions of women, and sisterhood in general, a local art party is being thrown for International Women's Day. It is organized by the College of New Caledonia Faculty Association's Status of Women Committee and it is hosted by the collected boutique businesses and agencies of Art Space, the majority of which are owned and operated by women.
Those who attend the event will get a chance to have a knitting lesson, cut a lino block, stitch a panel for the International Women's Day community quilt, do group art, and everyone is encouraged to dress as a suffragette for photo fun.
"This is not a protest rally, it is a celebration," said Anna McLauchlan, one of the main organizers. "Art is a celebratory thing, creating is celebratory, being together is celebratory. And that place - Art Space - is such a great, interactive place to have a party."
This year is the 100th anniversary of the first woman voter in Canada. It was legalized first by the province of Manitoba in January 1916, followed by Saskatchewan in March and Alberta in April.
B.C. broke the barrier on April 5, 1917 followed by Ontario a week later and Nova Scotia a year after that.
The other provinces straggled in, finally ending with Quebec in 1940.
The federal government ended gender-based voting discrimination in 1918, at least in partial measure. There were some subjects that had to be removed over time to attain total female electoral emancipation, the last being aboriginal women (and men at the same time) finally getting the right to vote in 1960.
"This year's theme is Canada is empowerment and the arts are activities rooted in empowerment," said McLauchlan.
"You are expressing yourself, making something, combining things to create something different, you can do it alone or together. It brings women together. It's a safe place for a joyful sharing."
There is no charge to attend and all are welcome, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity.
It begins at 7 p.m. on March 7 with a short agenda of messages and songs, then the free form festivities carry on into the night.
