March 11, 2021 · 0 Comments
By Sam Odrowski
International Women’s Day was celebrated by women around the world on March 8 and Orangeville Coun. Lisa Post spoke to the day’s significance during Council’s regular meeting on Monday.
Coun. Post noted that the International Women’s Day luncheon at Family Transition Place in 2020 was the last in-person event most of Council attended before the pandemic took off and it’s been an incredible year since then.
“Today as we celebrate women around the world, I just wanted to take a moment tonight to celebrate the phenomenal women in our community on International Women’s Day 2021,” she said.
“We’ve really seen women across our nation gaining trust as leaders in the public health, federally provincially and especially for us locally, Dr. [Nicola] Mercer has been an absolute champion for the health and safety of our community and today I wanted to take a moment to celebrate her.”
“Our community is also filled with phenomenal women who are shattering glass ceilings and making it easier for our next generation of women to move forward in the world without gender bias. Please keep being those powerful, strong community voices. Our future absolutely depends on it,” she added.
Coun. Post said she commends all the women who have taken on tremendous additional challenges this year, such as working from home while helping children to navigate virtual learning – all during a global pandemic. She also is grateful to all the women who are employed by the Town of Orangeville for adapting through the COVID-19 pandemic.,
“We’re absolutely lucky to have each of you and we’re grateful that you can continue to pivot and respond to the crazy world we’re living in,” she said.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Choose to Challenge”, because throughout history challenging societal norms is what’s created change.
In addition to recognizing all of the special women on International Women’s Day, Coun. Post also gave a shout out to men who are pushing for equality.
“I want to take a moment to recognize all of the men who are allies for change and who put gender equity at the forefront. I’m grateful for all of my fellow council members, who are all choosing to challenge and have unanimously supported every single initiative that has been aimed at making our community more inclusive for everybody,” said Coun. Post.