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Day celebrates achievements and raises awareness

Powell River events highlight ongoing need for gender equality
womensday
WOMEN'S RIGHTS: [From left] Ozzy Sullivan, two, Amy Sullivan and Ben Zroback, four, in attendance at last year’s International Women’s Day March. David Brindle photo

International Women’s Day, taking place on Thursday, March 8, is a global event celebrating women’s achievements and calling for gender equality in the workplace and beyond.

The hope is that one day there will be no need for such events to exist, according to local women's day event co-organizer and City of Powell River councillor Karen Skadsheim.

“I hope that someday we don’t have to have International Women’s Day or the #metoo movement,” said Skadsheim. “The goal should be that someday this will be irrelevant, that everybody be treated fairly and equally regardless of gender, colour, race or religion.”

Skadsheim is part of a group she described as informal with a uniting mission that is organizing a film and spoken-word event celebrating International Women’s Day in Powell River.

“It’s just a bunch of women who got together and said, ‘We should do something, so let’s do it,’” she said.

Leading up to March 8, fibre artist Roisin Sheehy-Culhane recently hosted a knit-in to teach people to make "pussy hats" at Great Balls of Wool. The hats were made popular at a worldwide women’s protest in January 2017 following United States president Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Also, Powell River Public Library recently hosted a feminist zine lab. Zines are small, self-published magazines that gained popularity in the 1990s. Library teen services coordinator Megan Cole has been hosting a zine lab for youth at the library since September.

The recent feminist zine event was for all ages and genders, said Cole, who added the she is inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement, a form of underground feminist activism that also originated in the 1990s.

“The zine movement was something that was really strong during the Riot Grrrl movement," said Cole, "so it’s neat to bring back something that will inspire teens today."

On International Women's Day, Cole will host a similar zine lab, together with local writer Leni Goggins, for a grade 10 English class at Brooks Secondary School.

Also on March 8, the community is encouraged to join an International Women’s Day march, beginning at 12 pm at Base Camp.

A screening of Speed Sisters will take place at Max Cameron Theatre that same evening. The film is about the first all-women racecar driving team in the Middle East. The night will also feature a spoken-word component organized by Adriana Virtue and a performance by Powell River Women's Punk Rock Choir. The group was started seven years ago and is led by Jennye Vishek.

“We picked up instruments and drum kits and guitars” said Vishek, “and some of us sing.”

The opportunity to participate in local women’s day events is something the group is looking forward to in a packed season of appearances.

“We’ve been practising a lot because we have quite a few gigs this spring," said Vishek, "so it was pretty easy to answer yes to this invitation.”

For those unable to participate in any of the events around the community, the opportunity to celebrate women will be available at the library until April, said Cole.

“There are feminist books, books by amazing women,” said Cole. “If people need something to get inspired and to celebrate International Women’s Day, they can find that in one of our displays at the library. They’ll be out for two months, so International Women’s Day will live on for a little longer.”