Each year on March 8th, International Women’s Day is celebrated globally with the goal of recognizing and celebrating women’s and girls’ social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.
The day can also be used to raise awareness of the progress made in advancing women’s rights and the ongoing efforts to ensure their participation in society.
International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th century. It had its emergence from the labour movements that occurred across North America and Europe. It reflected a growing call for equal participation for both men and women in society.
The first International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19th, 1911, across Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany, with other countries beginning to celebrate in the following years.
The year 1975 was acknowledged by the United Nations as International Women’s Year and they soon declared March 8th as International Women’s Day on a yearly basis.
The Government of Canada’s 2025 theme for International Women’s Day is Strength in every story. This theme highlights the importance of strengthening the voices of women, particularly those who continue to face barriers to success.
By creating different opportunities for women and girls, their potential becomes unlocked, and they contribute to growing and supporting Canada’s economy. These opportunities help ensure a sustainable future for everyone.
Every woman’s story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of having opportunities. You can celebrate International Women’s Day by recognizing the women in your life and by sharing their stories.
The Government of Canada has plenty of ways for individuals to become involved, including several useful resources for individuals to engage with, including:
Individuals can also research local initiatives that have been undertaken to celebrate International Women’s Day. In 2018, Vancouver adopted the Women’s Equity Strategy 2018-2028, a 10-year initiative aimed at addressing barriers faced by both cisgender and transgender women in Vancouver.
The strategy encompasses a vision to make Vancouver a place where women have full access to all the resources provided in the city, as well as having the opportunity to fully participate in the social, economic, cultural, and political life of Vancouver.
Those interested in attending events taking place in Vancouver for International Women’s Day 2025 can visit the International Women’s Day event page.
Drop by the Alexander College Library to check out our International Women’s Day display. Here are some of the titles on display:
Sources
City of Vancouver. (n.d.). International Women’s Day. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/international-womens-day.aspx
Government of Canada. (2025, February 19). International Women’s Day. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/commemorations-celebrations/international-womens-day.html
International Women’s Day. (n.d.). International Women’s Day 2025 events. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.internationalwomensday.com/EventSearch
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
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