A day to celebrate women
Posted Mar 8, 2011 2:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Tuesday is International Women’s Day, and in this country, women are marking 100 years of gains.
A hundred years ago, women at McGill University were welcomed into the classrooms for the first time.
The President and CEO of Canada World Youth, Iris Almeida-Cote, says women can be proud of their accomplishments on this 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
“If you see what women have been asking all through these years, they’re asking for better education,” Almeida-Cote tells 660News. “Getting into universities, schools and women’s studies programs. Studying medicine and the non-traditional occupations and this has improved tremendously, at least in Canada.”
But she says there is more work to be done, with more women making the transition from the classroom to the corporate boardroom, both in the private sector and with non-profit agencies.
“You need to ensure that there is momentum,” says Almeida-Cote. “The women’s movement has made many strides forward, but yet there is much to be accomplished. In parts of the world, outside of Canada, the majority of women are still illiterate.”
While there are strides for women to be made in underdeveloped countries, she adds there are still gender issues in this country that need to be resolved.
“Women have been asking for more respect,” adds Almeida-Cote. They want to flourish in an environment which is free from harrassment and sexual abuse. There has been much positive developments, although the work to be done continues to be an important task.”
Almeida-Cote says this is a day to remind women to be authentic, audacious and ambitious.
In Calgary, local festivities are taking place at Eau Claire Market, on the west side of the main floor, until 6pm.
