International Women’s Day on March 8

BARRHEAD – There are many successful, goodhearted, motivated women in the area and International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate their contributions and leadership to family, business and the community.

“March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the progress made and raise awareness of the work that needs to be done,” says the Canada.ca website.

“It's a call to action and a reminder that gender equality is one of the most effective ways to build healthier, more prosperous and more inclusive communities.”

Many women’s rights have not been in place for all that long and the Canada.ca website has a detailed file on the milestones through history.

Equity by law for women’s rights was incorporated into the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1981.

Women were not allowed to open a bank account without their husband’s signature until 1964 according to the Red Cross website.

Maternity benefits in unemployment insurance were added in 1971 although it wasn’t until 1978 when employers were no longer allowed to lay-off women for being pregnant.

Sex discrimination was prohibited in 1977 when the Canadian Human Rights Act was enacted.

Actions were taken early in the 1900s and those rights are in jeopardy in the U.S. today.

In 1916 Manitoba women were the first in Canada to win provincial voting rights thanks to Nellie McClung and the Political Equality League according to the Canada.ca website.

Alberta was the first province to define a minimum wage for working women in 1917.

By 1918 Alberta women and other provinces gave some women the right to vote in federal elections but it wasn’t until 1960 all women in Canada were given this right.

Women were declared “persons” in 1929.

In history there have been many great women who became the first in their field, making the way for other women to follow.

Grace Annie Lockhart spearheaded women’s university education in 1875.

Clara Brett Martin was the first woman lawyer in Canada in 1897.

Agnes Macphail was the first elected woman politician in the House of Commons in 1921.

Women did not compete in the Olympics until 1924 when Cecile Eustace Smith competed in figure skating.

Women divisions were developed in the Army Corps and the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941 with over 45,000 women enlisting.

It wasn’t until 1969 in Canada that a woman was appointed as a judge.

Ten years later in 1979 Nellie J. Cournoyea became the first Canadian premier.

The first Canadian woman astronaut was Dr. Roberta Bondar who went into space in 1992.

It wasn’t until 1995 that woman made up 50 percent of the workforce.

The advancements made continue in recognizing and protecting gender-related initiatives and equalities.

The Canadian Women’s Foundation website states differences still exist between the genders.

They work to address poverty, violence against women, and empowering girls.