women

EXCERPTS

#BreakTheBias with us on March 8th as we discuss the impact of gender bias across diverse industries, and how we can overcome it together.

About this event

Let’s celebrate the achievement of women as we confront gender bias in every space in which we exist.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #BreakTheBias. We are invited to imagine a world where gender equity exists, and take actionable steps toward that reality. The IWD organization identifies the following ”missions” to get us all moving toward that future:

Build workplaces where women thrive

Elevate visibility of women creatives

Forge women’s empowerment worldwide

Forge women’s equity in tech

Celebrate the women forging change

Empower women’s choices in health

Creating equity in the workplace for all genders is a necessary step toward a safer, more collaborative space for us all. SNIWWOC is pleased to invite three guest speakers (TBA) to share about their experiences across their respective industries. Our guests will share about their journey to success, the gender bias they face along the way, and some of the other intersecting issues they’ve encountered. Stay tuned for speaker announcements, coming soon!

We can’t wait to share with you, and hear from you!

Join us on zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84544257975

Meeting ID: 845 4425 7975

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We acknowledge that this event is hosted from the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people, currently and specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

EXCERPTS

On March 8 2022 from 7 to 8:30 pm Councillor Kavanagh will again host a virtual meeting with an emcee and 4 special panelists.

Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.

We can break the bias in our communities.

We can break the bias in our workplaces.

We can break the bias in our schools, colleges and universities.

Together, we can all break the bias – on International Women’s Day (IWD) and beyond.

Meet our Emcee

Suzanne Obiorah 

Title: City of Ottawa Director, Gender, Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development 

Suzanne is the Director of Ottawa’s first Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development service. Under Suzanne’s leadership, her team is working on strategic plans to embed the principles of inclusion and accessibility across the work of all city departments. Suzanne has worked in a variety of health and social services settings for nearly 19 years. Throughout her career, she has championed equity work within our community.

Meet our Panelists

Barbara Dumont-Hill

Title: Grandmother Barbara

Barbara Dumont-Hill is Algonquin Anishabeg from the Kitigan Zibi Community in Quebec. She has served for several years as a spirit keeper for Carleton University, Algonquin College, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa. She travelled across Canada as an advisor with the Canadian Department of Justice to witness the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls National Inquiry. Barbara’s wok has inspired her path to honour and empower Indigenous women and youth. Barbara Lives in Bay Ward.

Fae Johnstone 

Title: Executive Director, Wisdom2Action

Fae Johnstone (she/they) is a trans-feminist activist and the Executive Director of Wisdom2Action, a social enterprise and consulting firm working with nonprofits and governments across the Canada to advance 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, improve mental health services, and combat gender-based violence. 

Salwen Kayembe 

Title: Intern, Bay Ward City Councilor’s Office

Salwen Kayembe is a student at the University of Ottawa currently working as an intern for Councillor Kavanagh at City Hall. Salwen grew up in Bay Ward, as the second of four children in an Ottawa Community Housing neighbourhood. She aspires to raise awareness of racial injustices, to help eliminate bias, and to empower Black women in reaching their full potential.

Simone Godbout

Title: Founder, Marlow, and SheBoot’s Crowd Favorite Winner 

Simone Godbout is the co-winner of the Crowd Favourite Award in the 2021 Invest Ottawa SheBoot Program. The award recognizes their new local business, Marlow, which produces environmentally conscious menstrual products, and seeks to encourage healthy conversations about menstrual and sexual health.