International Women's Day is March 8 and the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) is hosting a gala dinner to celebrate, March 4 at the Columbus Community Centre at 6 p.m.
The theme for the event is Step It Up For Gender Equality, where Shirley Bond, MLA, will speak about women's roles in today's world, while a woman who is a recent Syrian refugee will give an inspirational talk about her journey.
"As you know we will celebrate International Women's Day March 8th around the world and this occasion was created by the United Nations," said Rosemary Raygada Watanabe, women and seniors program coordinator at IMSS. International Women's Day was created in response to the labour movements at the turn of the 20th century in North America and across Europe.
"For years and years women have been fighting for more equality and the United Nations say these next years will close the gap on discrimination against women by 2030," said Raygada Watanabe, who became a Canadian citizen in 2014.
"In some countries there are still a lot of gaps between gender equality. In Canada the goal is empowerment that leads to equality and the celebration is for at least one day for us to stop and reflect about women and also recognize all the achievements women have had in many different countries."
Another reason to celebrate this year is it's the 100th anniversary of women's first right to vote in Canada, said Raygada Watanabe, who used to be a university professor studying inequality between education offered to boys and girls in rural areas in Peru before she moved to Canada a decade ago.
"When people don't have access to education, they don't have access to employment."
Raygada Watanabe said education is the key to equality.
"The women we celebrate on March 8 and all that they have achieved is because they have a good education and have taken the opportunities that brings," said Raygada Watanabe. "On International Women's Day we are reflecting about this inequality and thinking about what action we can take to help these women."
The event features a silent auction, dance, dinner, entertainment and guest speakers.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6 p.m. at the Columbus Community Centre, 7201 Domano Blvd.
For more information call 250-562-2900. Tickets, only sold in advance, are $35 each at IMSS, 1270 Second Ave., or online at www.imss.ca.
