In commemoration and celebration, BWSS collaborated and participated in events during the week of International Women’s Day 2019. Here is a look at some of the amazing events, bringing community together for the advancement of gender equity!
Every day, our over 150 volunteers bring their heart, soul and compassion to their work supporting survivors through our crisis line and support groups, strengthening our eco-fashion movement and much more. On March 7th 2019 BWSS held our annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner at Federico’s Supper Club in recognition of our committed volunteers. We thank all the volunteers who play such an important role at BWSS and My Sister’s Closet, social enterprise of BWSS.
On the same day, Chicha Vancouver held an International Women’s Day celebration hosted by Andrea Warner, author of Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Authorized Biography with partial proceeds going to BWSS.
The event included female speakers from all backgrounds, industries, disciplines to share their stories, their music, and their positivity and hope for an equitable future including our Angela Marie MacDougall.
Angela Marie MacDougall, BWSS Executive Director joined Riaz Meghiji on City TV’s Breakfast Television the morning of International Women’s Day reflecting on the 40 years of ending violence work of BWSS.
BWSS powerful awareness initiatives Home Sweet Home and Peephole were also shared during the interview which you can view here and here.
2019 also marked the 2nd annual Women’s Institute by BC Teacher’s Federation where teacher’s from every school district in BC are invited.The conference facilitates storytelling, creativity, wellness, and learning from one another.
Our, Angela Marie MacDougall and Rona Amiri co-facilitated two Consent 101 workshops. Focusing on looking at sexual violence within a context, delving deeper into understanding the historical and contemporary social context of sexual violence in Canada while exploring what it takes to build a culture of consent.
And Ileah Snell, Women’s Support Worker and Brooklyn Fowler, Transitions Service Coordinator represented BWSS during the “Living Library”—a group of inspiring leaders in a variety of fields sharing about their work.
13 years in the making Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre opened a 24 hour women’s shelter on International Women’s Day! We were delighted to join to the mark the occasion and recognize the activists who worked hard since 2006 to make it happen.
Our Rosa Elena Arteaga, Manager of Direct Services and Clincal Practice attended our sister organization West Coast LEAF annual Equality Breakfast. This years’ speaker was Dr.Willie Parker, an advocate of reproductive health in the United States.
BWSS and Options for Sexual Health collaborated on a presentation and preimere of Her Story (in three parts) a film anthology by Camille Hollett-French.
Following each of the short films, Charmaine De Silva, hosted dialogue panels covering the topics of each film, abortion, sexual violence and gender based violence. The dialogue panels delved deeper into the nuances of each of the issues that the films captured.
Samantha Kearney Manager of Development and Social Enterprise at BWSS spoke at SEC Conference: The Ripple Effect as part of a panel on March 9, 2019. The panel focused on gender based violence and the power of social enterprise as a tool for prevention and empowerment. Samantha shared the huge positive social and environmental impact of My Sister’s Closet.
The work for gender equity continues with our Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director at BWSS, attending the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women by the United Nations in New York.
BWSS is in attendance to talk about Canada’s response to social protection systems, access to public services, sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.
For more on events happening at CSW 63 follow BWSS on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Honorable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality with Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director of BWSS at the reception for the Canadian delegation at the Canadian consulate in New York City.
