People around the world are gathering today to celebrate International Women’s Day, and Ontario’s universities are proud to take part by hosting numerous events, discussions, activities and workshops that help promote the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
For students, faculty and alumni who are interested in taking part in or learning more about International Women’s Day, see below for a list of initiatives taking place on university campuses across Ontario.
Algoma University
Students at Algoma University are organizing an Algoma Art and Feminism event aimed at updating Wikipedia entries related to art and feminism.
Brock University
Drawing attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, along with highlighting the culture-shifting #MeToo movement, will be the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day events at Brock University on Thursday, March 8.
Carleton University
The Canada-India Centre, Carleton International, and spark are marking International Women’s Day 2018 with an event focused on empowering women through entrepreneurship, participation in STEM-related fields, international initiatives and political engagement.
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph’s Research Facility for Women’s Health and Wellbeing is hosting a free one-day conference in honour of International Women’s Day 2018, where researchers can present their work on women’s issues. The conference will showcase research related to women’s health and wellbeing, violence against women and more.
Lakehead University
Lakehead University is hosting an International Women’s Day Entrepreneur Panel in celebration of both faculty and student start ups from the university. Through the Partnerships in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PIE) program, female faculty and students who have ventured into the world of entrepreneurship will share their greatest accomplishments and discuss challenges along the journey to running their own business.
Laurentian University
As part Laurentian University’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program, students gain an understanding of how social and cultural structures are shaped by gender and how the critical study of gender has brought about massive changes for both women and men in Canada and globally in key areas such as political participation, work, healthcare, education and justice. Students are encouraged to help foster change at the local level through collaboration with organizations such as Voices for Women, Health Sciences North’s sexual assault crisis centre, and YWCA Sudbury.
McMaster University
McMaster University is celebrating International Women’s Day by hosting an inspirational talk from best-selling author and women’s leadership expert, Rosita Hall, together with McMaster leaders, Maureen MacDonald and Susan Searls Giroux. Hosted by the Academic Women’s Success and Mentorship comittee at McMaster, the goal is to stimulate dialogue on ways to integrate and sustain a culture of leadership, mentorship and success among female academics across the university.
Nipissing University
Nipissing University is marking International Women’s Week with a series of talks, events and workshops centred on the important and timely theme of transforming justice.
OCAD University
To celebrate International Women’s Day, OCADU’s InStudio is showcasing history of belonging, inspiration and success by publishing photographs of women from the early 20th century who pursued their artistic ambitions by studying at the Ontario College of Art (as OCAD University was then known).
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
UOIT has partnered with Hydro One to increase enrolment and career opportunities for female students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are hosting a panel discussion on women and mentorship. A panel of experts will explore how mentorship can be a powerful tool to help women overcome systemic barriers to workplace advancement.
Queen’s University
The Queen’s University Feminist Legal Studies (FLSQ) and the Faculty of Law are hosting an annual International Women’s Day conference, (Re)Production: Inequalities of Gender, Racialization, and Class. The conference will examine how better laws, policies, and practices can help eradicate gender discrimination in Canada and around the world.
Royal Military College of Canada (RMC)
To showcase the contribution of women to Canada’s rich military history and heritage, RMC has presented a list of historical milestones and accomplishments of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) female members.
Ryerson University
On International Women’s Day, Ryerson faculty and staff who identify as women are invited to a self-care workshop with Vaishali Patel, a registered psychotherapist, for a discussion on Superwoman Syndrome, which is a range of physical, psychological, and interpersonal stress symptoms experienced by women who attempt to perform perfectly in multiple or conflicting roles.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health is hosting a panel discussion, celebrating public health achievements for women’s rights, while also discussing current challenges and opportunities for advancements in women’s health.
Trent University
Trent University is hosting an annual International Women’s Day Community Potluck and Panel Presentation celebrating inclusion, equity and joining together for social change. This year’s panel presentation will focus on ‘The Art of Resistance’ and explore intersectional and creative responses to inspire social movement and challenge racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and classism.
University of Waterloo
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the University of Waterloo’s HeForShe Mathematics Committee is hosting a panel discussion, keynote speaker and a screening of Wonder Woman at the Princess Theatre at 6:30 p.m.
Western University
Western University’s Go CODE Girl is providing an opportunity for girls in grades ranging from 7 to 11 across Ontario to learn about the exciting world of coding and software development, and discover opportunities in computing and engineering fields.
Wilfrid Laurier University
Laurier’s Centre for Women in Science (WinS) hosts biweekly meetings for Laurier students and faculty. The centre promotes women in science, while producing events to raise the profile of women in STEM subjects.
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is hosting a number of International Women’s Day events including panel discussions, film screenings and skills training workshops.
York University
York University’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion is hosting an event on March 8th that’s focused on the theme of reimagining women’s rights. By bringing together multi-sector panelists with diverse professional and personal expertise, the university aims to initiate a change in the conversation about women’s rights.