Canadians, newcomers and people worldwide celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8.
The month of March is recognized as Women’s History Month.
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This year, the special theme for the day and month honouring the economic, social, political and cultural achievements of women is “Inspire Inclusion.”
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The first International Women’s Day (#IWD) was celebrated on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. More than a million women (and men) attended public gatherings to show their support.
A day of global activism
Soon, other countries began to observe and celebrate International Women’s Day. In 1975, the United Nations named 1975 as International Women’s Year and March 8 as the official International Women’s Day.
Over the years, March 8 has become a day of collective global activism and celebration shared by all those committed to forging women’s equality.
Anabella Hatami of Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST), told Prepare for Canada that “with the theme “#InspireInclusion,” we are reminded of the importance of embracing diversity and promoting inclusion across all sectors of society.”
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“It is a call to action for each of us to actively engage in breaking down the barriers that hinder women’s progress,” said Hatami, “particularly for those who are just beginning their lives anew in Canada.”
Skills and training for visible minority women
WEST of Windsor began in 1984 as a non-profit corporation and registered charitable organization in response to disproportionately high levels of unemployment among women and the difficulties women met trying to enter the workforce.
As noted on their website, during West of Windsor’s evolution, “it became apparent that the most disadvantaged women, in terms of training and employment opportunities, were visible minorities. As a result of those findings, a plan was implemented to create a technical and life skills training program specific to the needs of visible minority women residing in Windsor-Essex. WEST, a non-profit corporation and registered charitable organization, is the realization of that initiative.”
Since the pandemic started, Canada has seen record population growth, with half of it women. Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced in November of 2023 that Canada remains committed to settling 485,000 newcomers in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
Immigrant women driving the labour market
According to Statistics Canada, in 2022 there were 4,200,630 immigrant women in the country’s labour market. The data also revealed that 2.9 million were visible minorities (1.3 million were not). Newcomers continue to comprise just about 100 percent of Canada’s labour force growth and 75 percent of the country’s population growth.
In Canada, women have an 83 percent participation rate in the national workforce. That’s risen from just over 30 percent in 1976, when only half of the women worked outside the home.
According to StatsCan, the male national labour market participation rate is about 92 percent.
Hatami says West of Windsor takes the theme of #inspireinclusion to heart. It works to serve newcomer women and girls facing the challenges of a new home and overcoming gender-based barriers.
“Our mission is to provide these women with the tools, resources, and support they need to realize their full potential,” said Hatami. “By focusing on education and employment opportunities, we aim to empower them to build sustainable and fulfilling lives for themselves and their families.”
Promoting diversity in leadership
As one International Women’s Day website states, “To truly include women means to openly embrace their diversity of race, age, ability, faith, body image, and how they identify. Worldwide, women must be included in all fields of endeavour.”
“One of the key pillars of Inspire Inclusion is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions. Women, especially those belonging to underrepresented groups, continue to face barriers when seeking leadership roles. By championing inclusion, organizations and communities can harness the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation.”
It is about understanding the unique challenges faced by newcomer women and creating pathways for their success and leadership in our communities
– Anabella Hatami, West of Windsor
“Education and awareness play vital roles in fostering inclusion and empowering women. Through initiatives such as mentorship programs, educational workshops, and advocacy campaigns, individuals and organizations can create opportunities for women to thrive. By providing support and resources, women can be empowered to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.”
Continuous commitment is required
For Hatami and West of Windsor, the importance of International Women’s Day and the theme of #inspireinclusion represents much more than a single day of recognition and celebration. It’s a “continuous commitment to fostering an environment where women’s contributions are valued and their voices are heard.”
“It is about understanding the unique challenges faced by newcomer women and creating pathways for their success and leadership in our communities,” she said. “Through our collective efforts, we can inspire inclusion and ensure that every woman has the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of life.”
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at both the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in the writing of this story, and all sources are cited and credited where possible.
© Prepare for Canada2023
