2021 Vaughan International Women’s Day – Virtual

Event Launch: Mar. 8, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Link: www.vaughan.ca/live

UN Women announces the theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021 as,

“Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”

The theme celebrates the efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is also aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls,” and the flagship Generation Equality campaign, which calls for women’s right to decision-making in all areas of life, equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, an end all forms of violence against women and girls, and health-care services that respond to their needs.

Women stand at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic. The crisis has highlighted both the importance of their contributions and the exemplary work they do.

Women leaders and organizations have demonstrated their skills, knowledge and networks to effectively lead in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Currently, there is more acceptance than ever before that women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all.

Many countries, including Canada that have been more successful in stemming the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to its health and broader socio-economic impacts, are headed by women.

#IWD2021 and #InternationalWomensDay.

During past live events, attendees have been able to write words of inspiration on a flower wall in the atrium at Vaughan City Hall. This year, residents can add messages to the City’s virtual Words of Inspiration Wall.

Vaughan 2021 International Women’s Day – Virtual Event

A panelist of women leaders who represent a variety of sectors in City of Vaughan such as business, diversity, inclusion, and education. They will speak to their efforts to forge ahead through COVID -19 to adapt the “new normal” and what they’ve learned through this unprecedented challenging time in our history. The 2021 presenting sponsor is CIBC.

Event Sponsor: CIBC

Emcee/moderator:

• Margie Singleton, Chief Executive Officer, Vaughan Public Libraries

Panelists:

• Hedy Afsharian, Director of Business Banking, CIBC
• Rhonda Lenton, President, York University
• Zincia Francis, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, City of Vaughan

Sponsor welcome:

• Stella Cellucci, Business Development Manager, CIBC

Performers:

• Gracie Ella, singer/songwriter
• Madeline Fiore, writer/filmmaker

Courtesy of our community partner, Arcadia Live Productions, musical performances will be led by Gracie Ella, singer, songwriter, vocal arranger, and multi-instrumentalist (guitar and piano) based in Toronto. She did two years in a prestigious Jazz Vocal Program at University of Toronto. In the last year, Gracie has been recording with an incredible array of amazingly talented producers and songwriters, including James Fauntleroy (Beyonce, Rihanna, Drake, Bruno), T-Minus (Drake, Bieber, Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd).