Media Releases

Town of Amherst supports International Women’s Day

It is important to recognize women’s achievements and acknowledge the challenges they face in the quest for gender equality, says Mayor David Kogon.

“Women have contributed greatly to our society, our country, our province and our town despite facing many challenges,” Kogon said. “Without those contributions, our society, our community wouldn’t be as progressive or as successful as we are.

“Still there is much to be done to ensure gender equality becomes the norm and not the exception.”

Kogon made the comments on Feb. 19, 2020, as he presented Dawn Ferris, local International Women’s Day Committee chair, with a $100 Community Support Grant.

The grant will help defray the costs associated with the annual International Women’s Day luncheon, which is being held on March 9 at the Lion’s Club on 9 Electric St. during the noon hour.

The luncheon celebrates how far women have come and how much work remains to bring about gender equality, Ferris said.

“Women still don’t make the same as men in Canada and throughout many countries around the world,” she said. “While the unionized workplace, the military and the RCMP have a gender-neutral pay salary, everywhere else women make less than their male counterparts.

“We have seen huge issues brought to light in the past few years. The #MeToo movement has exposed the reality that many women have experienced sexual harassment and sexual violence in the workplace.”

International Women’s Day, which is held around the globe on March 8, is an important day for everyone to celebrate, Ferris said. It is also a day to remind people that “societies do better when there is equal participation from everyone.”

This year’s theme is, “I am generation equality #EachForEqual.”

Guest speaker at the local luncheon is Trina Clarke, the CEO of the YMCA of Cumberland.

Admission to the event is free, but there will be a free will offering box at the door. All proceeds will go to Autumn House.