International Women's Day, United Nations Web image.
FORT McMURRAY — International Women’s Day on March 8 is being marked locally with events aimed at empowering girls and highlighting women in industry, as global advocates warn progress on equality remains uneven.
The United Nations says this year’s theme comes at a time when justice systems are under strain from conflict, repression and political tensions. UN Women says women and girls worldwide have just 64 per cent of the legal rights of men, and in nearly 70 per cent of surveyed countries face greater barriers to accessing justice.
“Without justice, rights are just words. With justice, rights become power,” the agency says in its campaign materials, calling for stronger legal protections, accessible legal aid and support for women whose rights are violated.
In Fort McMurray, Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta is hosting its Girls’ Empowerment Mini-Gala on Friday at SMS Equipment Place. The organization says more than 150 girls aged nine to 15 are expected to attend the event, which is designed to build confidence and foster connection during International Women’s Week.
Meanwhile, Suncor Energy is launching a week-long campaign to spotlight women across its operations and support community organizations.
“We’re kicking off a week-long celebration of the incredible women helping shape our organization and our communities,” the company said in a statement announcing the initiative. Each day leading up to March 8, Suncor says it will feature one woman from its workforce and announce a donation to a non-profit in her region, embracing the global theme “Give To Gain.”
The company says it has donated $10,000 to Women Building Futures, an organization providing free skills training and career pathways for women and gender-diverse individuals entering the skilled trades.
Among those featured is Christie T., a laboratory technician at the St. Clair Ethanol Plant in Ontario. “When I started my career, not many women worked in operational roles,” she said in company materials. She added events like International Women’s Day encourage more women to pursue technical careers and remind people of what women are capable of achieving.
Another employee, Katherine H., a manager of project controls at the Edmonton Refinery, said her advice to women at any stage of their careers is to “be confident, lean in and contribute wherever you can.” She recently led the refinery’s first Strides for Caregivers Walk in support of the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation.
As communities mark the week with both celebration and reflection, advocates say the focus remains on advancing rights and ensuring women and girls have meaningful access to justice and opportunity.
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