BURNABY —As International Women’s Day approaches, we reflect on the past year and highlight opportunities to celebrate this important day.
In the past year, the CUPE BC women’s committee has reached out into our communities to support community partners who share our goals. The initial outcome of this initiative has been very exciting as there are many initiatives that we can participate in.
In the Fraser Valley, along with Local 403, we are providing funding to print a calendar which outlines free events for families in the Township of Langley. In all, 12,000 calendars will be distributed through the public school system and public libraries.
In the North, we are supporting the Northern Women’s Centre in the printing of bookmarks that are resources with information on critical issues such as harassment, date rape, stalking, racism, and sexual diversity.
In Smithers, we are working with the Northern Society for Domestic Peace. This society runs the only transition house in the northern interior.
The women’s committee is also supporting several International Women’s Day events. We were able to reproduce the popular IWD sticker created last year. CUPE BC, through the BC Federation of Labour, is supporting the IWD breakfast held for women in the Downtown Eastside. CUPE sisters are also participating in the BC Federation of Labour’s annual IWD breakfast in Burnaby, as well as the West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) Equality Breakfast. Both events showcase the ongoing work by labour and community activists in the continuing struggle for equality and justice for women.
Events are happening throughout the province and a complete list can be found at www.cupe.bc.ca/events.
These include a rally and conference through the Vancouver IWD Committee – a coalition of labour, community groups and individuals on Saturday, March 6. Members of the CUPE BC Women’s committee will participate as delegates and facilitators at the conference that highlights topics of leadership, mentoring, poverty, housing, domestic violence and other critical issues facing our sisters in society.
Other events highlighted in the CUPE events calendar include:
• Vancouver Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre Pancake Breakfast in Vancouver on Saturday, March 6.
• Prince George IWD Breakfast on Saturday, March 6.
• Kamloops & District Labour Council second annual IWD soup kitchen on Sunday, March 7.
• CUPE Metro Vancouver District Council is sponsoring an IWD lunch on Monday, March 8.
The Vancouver Park Board has created 12 unique posters depicting local women athletes. The posters can be found in community centres and other facilities and can also be viewed online.
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