Six students from SFU have organized an march with the support of the university's Gender, Sexuallity, and Women’s Studies department and Women’s Centre.
While International Women's Day falls on March 8, the inaugural event (which they are calling the first annual) will take place on Sunday, March 5 at šxʷƛ̓ənÉ™q Xwtl'e7énḵ Square (formerly known as the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery North Plaza).
The event will begin at noon with an Indigenous welcome ceremony by Jaylene McRae, followed by speeches from local community leaders and activists such as Joyce Arthur, Founder and Executive Director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, and Surrey Pride organizer Dr. Jen Marchbank.
Around 2 p.m. the crowd will march up Howe Street and loop back to the Art Gallery via Helmcken and Hornby streets. The total route is just under 1.5 km and will be walked at a slow pace according to organizers who also encourage attendees to wear masks to keep the event accessible and welcoming to everyone.
As a part of the SFU students’ studies, they work with gender issues on an international scale and want to put this into practice by arranging this march. “2022 was a historically backward year in the women’s rights movement and we are keen to support women around the world and have their voices heard,” they say in a press release.
The march is intended to celebrate the local community of self-identifying women and non-binary folks in Vancouver.
International Women's Day March
When: Sunday, March 5. Noon to 4 p.m.
Where: šxʷƛ̓ənÉ™q Xwtl'e7énḵ Square (formerly known as the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery North Plaza)
