UFV commemorated International Women’s Day with a panel presentation. On Friday, March 7 at Evered Hall on the Abbotsford campus, Dr. Joanne MacLean, UFV President, was joined by panelists Dr. Abimbola Eke, Dr. Cathy Press, and Christine Seymour for a powerful discussion with community leaders who are paving the way for change.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s a day to fight for gender equality and raise awareness of gender discrimination around the world.

According to Statistics Canada, women continue to be paid less than their male counterparts for the same work and hold only a third of leadership positions. They represent the largest population living in low-income households, and are twice as likely to be the victim of a violent crime. These inequities are even more severe for women of colour, with disabilities, and women in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Canada ranks 30th in the world on the Global Gender Gap Index rating.

Gender parity in Canada still has a long way to go, making discussions like these all the more important. The panel conversation was facilitated by Dr. Khyati Shetty, Director of UFV’s School of Business. Khyati is an accomplished educator, global leader, and recipient of the GCC Education Leaders Award (2019, 2020) and GCC Women Leaders Award (2017, 2019).

“This year’s International Women’s Day panel is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women, reflect on the progress we’ve made, and engage in meaningful conversation about gender equity and leadership,” says Joanne. “My hope is this event will not only inspire but also serve as a call to action, reminding us of the importance of supporting and uplifting one another as we continue on the path toward equality.”

Calling together a group of women from diverse backgrounds and experiences provided the audience with a more intersectional lens on women’s issues.

“Not enough stories of our Indigenous people — especially our women — have been heard, and I think that’s the work behind Truth and Reconciliation. When we can really get an understanding of what’s happened, we can keep moving forward in a direction that’s good for all,” says fellow panelist Christine, a member of the Tselxwéyeqw (Chilliwack) Nation and District Principal of Indigenous Education for the Fraser Cascade School District.

Christine is a UFV alumna with a master’s degree in leadership from Simon Fraser University. She’s devoted her career to the preservation and revitalization of Halq’eméylem, the language of the Stó꞉lō people. Christine believes in fostering collaboration between schools and the community through the principles of Truth and Reconciliation.

“Truth and reconciliation requires us to tell the stories of our people. So when this opportunity came, I just thought: well, it sounds like an honour, but also possibly a place where we can talk about our experiences,” she says.

“If there’s a safe space to tell the truth, there’s a safe space to learn. I’m happy to be a part of that.”

Click here to learn more about the event, and find more information about International Women’s Day here.