Laurier celebrates International Women’s Day 2022 with online public events

March 3, 2022

March 8 marks International Women’s Day, an internationally recognized day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and raise awareness about the challenges women and girls continue to face. 

The theme of International Women’s Day 2022 is focused on breaking biases to create a world that is diverse, equitable, inclusive and free from stereotypes and discrimination.

Laurier will host the following online public events. Advanced registration is required.

Celebrating Women Leading in the Arts 

March 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Zoom. Register.

Join Laurier’s Advancement office and the Waterloo chapter of the International Women’s Forum for their fifth annual International Women’s Day event, Celebrating Women Leading the Arts.

Laurier President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah MacLatchy will deliver a keynote address, followed by a panel discussion with Laurier alumnae working in the arts, including visual artist and entrepreneur Melissa Falconer (BA ’17), writer, actor and producer Nelu Handa (BBA ’04), and singer, performer and voice instructor Larissa Koniuk (B.Mus. ’09). The event will conclude with a breakout room networking opportunity.

Instagram Takeover

March 8, Instagram. Follow.

Tune into Laurier’s Instagram account for a takeover hosted by Consent is Golden, an initiative in the university’s Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management. The takeover will feature women and non-binary people working as gender justice advocates, sex educators, feminist organizers and frontline workers.

Breaking the Bias

March 8, 3 to 4 p.m., Zoom. Register. 

Laurier joins Women in Communication and Technology for a series of online panels about breaking the biases faced by women in communications, technology, healthcare, education and other sectors. On March 8 from 3 to 4 p.m., Eden Hennessey, director of research and programs with the Laurier Centre for Women in Science, will moderate the panel event “Breaking the Barrier to Women’s Access to Education.”

Panellists include Amy Valletta, director of community participation supports at Community Living Cambridge; Aracy Selvakumar, manager of social integration programs at Reception House Waterloo Region; Emily Dyck, social enterprise coordinator at YW Kitchener-Waterloo; and Jaydum Hunt, interim director of the Indigenous Student Centre at the University of Waterloo.

Golden Opportunities for Women in the Laurier Community

Laurier is home to research institutes, partnerships and collaborations that support and celebrate the achievements of women.

Women Entrepreneurship Centre

The Women Entrepreneurship Centre (WEC) at Laurier supports training for women and non-binary entrepreneurs and connects them to a community of changemakers, which builds a strong foundation for future success. The centre is dedicated to empowering women and non-binary entrepreneurs of every age, stage and culture achieve their business dreams, with programs offered to help start and grow a business. Learn more about the WEC or show your support with a financial donation.

Centre for Women in Science

The Laurier Centre for Women in Science (WinS) is proud to champion women in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The centre is dedicated to building an inclusive scientific community through research, action and communication and provides mentorship to female science students at Laurier. Learn more about the centre and some of the women in science at Laurier that it supports.

Women’s Faculty Colleagues

Women’s faculty colleagues at Laurier provide support, information and events related to issues affecting female faculty and offer direct support and advice to female faculty around equity issues. The women’s faculty colleague at Laurier’s Brantford campus is Nuha Dwaikat Shaer, lecturer in the Faculty of Social Work, and Cristina Stoica, professor, Department of Mathematics is the women’s faculty colleague at Laurier’s Waterloo campus.

Women-Centred Services for Students

Laurier students can find safe and supportive spaces to discuss gender-based inequities and gender- related issues with peers through women-centred services offered through Laurier’s Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Students at Laurier's Waterloo campus can also access the Centre for Women and Trans People on the first floor of MacDonald House, while students at Laurier’s Brantford campus can access the Laurier Brantford Women’s Centre located in Room 206 of Grand River Hall.