Various International Women's Day 2009 events in the Lower Mainland

Celebrating Women's Achievements Past and Present
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
5:00pm to 9:00pm
Vancouver Public Library Central Branch Alice Mackey Room (lower level) 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Members of various organizations in Vancouver, including Women's Organizations, NGOs, community groups, students and individuals, have collaborated to put together this special event in commemoration of this year's International Women's Day.

This event is free and open to all.

From 5:00pm to 6:00pm you will have the opportunity to enjoy coffee, tea and refreshments, and to mingle, network and visit the booths from many local and international women's and human rights organizations.

The program will begin at 6:00pm and will feature:

Poets Mami Norwich, Magnolia Villalobos, and Shauna Paull.

A speakers panel consisting of Shelagh Day of FAFIA (Feminist Alliance For International Action), Kasari Govander of West Coast LEAF (Legal Education and Action Fund), and Asia Czapska of Justice For Girls. Panellists will address the achievements made by the women's movement in the past, the current challenges still facing women and most importantly what actions are needed in order to continue defending women's rights and gender equality at home and abroad.

Singing by The Solidarity Notes Choir.

For more information, please contact codyorke@gmail.com

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International Women's Day Rally in support of a fair contract for Compass workers
Friday, March 6, 2009
11:30am to 1:00pm
Children's and Women's Hospital Front Lawn (beside Oak Street), Vancouver

Economic equality for the women workers and all workers depends on family supporting wages and safe working conditions.

Tell Compass to come back to the table. Tell PHSA and government to take responsibility for the performance of their corporate contractors.

All housekeepers and food services workers deserve:
Living wages that can support a family.
Enough time, training, and supplies to keep our hospitals clean and safe.

Join us to share food, learn about the front-line stories from Compass workers, and hear solidarity messages from other health care workers, labour and community leaders.

For more information contact Olive at 604.456.7084 or odempsey@heu.org  or www.bclivingwage.org

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We need our government to be accountable for the performance of their private contractors in our public hospitals. Send a message to the health minister today.

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As you read this, hospital housekeepers and food services workers in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Southern Vancouver Island are bargaining with multinational contractors Sodexo, Aramark and Compass.

To-date, Compass is the only one of the three companies to walk away from the table.  Their final offer fails to address any health and safety issues or the wage and benefit concerns that force workers to take on two jobs or to choose between necessities like food and heat.

The majority of the 3500 workers employed by the ‘Big 3' are women with dependents. Their work is demanding and requires a high level of knowledge and skill. From delivering the right foods at the right times to patients, to cleaning maternity wards, operating rooms and cancer clinics, their work is essential to clean and safe hospitals.

We need our government to be accountable for the performance of their private contractors in our public hospitals. Send a message to the health minister today.

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Hard Times Come Again No More - Grassroots Women
Saturday, March 7, 2009
3:00pm to 8:00pm
Lore Krill Housing Co-op Common Room
65 West Cordova Street (between Abbott and Carrall), Vancouver

Working Class Women Understanding, Resisting and Surviving the Economic Crisis. Please join Grassroots Women for a collaborative forum and cultural cabaret.

3:00pm to 4:00pm: Meet and Greet, view art and informational displays.
4:00pm to 6:00pm: Speakers and discussion on understanding, resisting, and surviving economic crises past and present.
6:00pm to 8:00pm: Light Supper, Cultural Cabaret.

Contribute to the Cultural Cabaret!
Read a poem!
Sing a song!
Prepare a skit!
Contribute visual art!

Individuals and organizations are invited to contribute. Contact us to let us know how you will contribute. To RSVP (to help us estimate how much food we need) or for more information, contact Grassroots Women at 604.682.4451 or grassrootswomen@telus.net

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Surrey's 15th Annual International Women's Day
Saturday March 7, 2009
12:30pm to 4:00pm
Queen Elizabeth Secondary
9457 King George Highway, Surrey

Women are invited to celebrate International Women's Day with an afternoon of entertainment, snacks, refreshments and door prizes. Children are welcome. For more information: Sandra at 604.597.4358 or Ursula at 604.581.9381 Pre-registration: Required for transportation subsidy purposes only.

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Celebrate International Women's Day
UNITE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
6:00pm
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
800 East Broadway, Vancouver

An evening to celebrate International Women's Day featuring:
MUSIC
* RENE HUGO - Lively Peruvian music.
* ALFONZO VALLE - Classic love songs.

DANCING
* ROSITA DE MEXICO - Doing Hawaiian style dance.
* DAMARIS IBARRA & DILIA OCHOA - Folkloric dances from Guatemala .
* Women from Chile dancing la Cueca Sola.
* From Chile a young girl doing a popular dance for women.

* SPEAKERS on women's rights in Latin America and the world.

* POETRY about the strength and importance of women.

* A FILM about women in Palestine and their struggle against war and occupation.

The event is by donation.

* Also: DINNER AND A RAFFLE! Dinner will be delicious Chacareros Sandwiches for $4 each.

Organized by: Solidarity Coalition for a United Latin America (SCULA).
scula_van@yahoo.ca

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Art, Resistance and Community Transformation (Free)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
2:00pm
W2 Launch Pad
116 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

An IWD visual presentation and community dialogue with Favianna Rodriguez. Artist activist Favianna Rodriguez is one of Utne Reader magazine's ‘Top 50 Visionaries' of the year. She'll talk about her art practice and how the Oakland Eastside Arts Alliance Center she's co-founded - combining a community centre, youth programs, a media arts collective plus social housing - offers an inspiring model for Vancouver's downtown eastside. Sponsored by Tides Canada - Endswell Fund and DTES Community Arts Network.

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Art show & IWD reception co-sponsored by BCGEU!

A Woman's Place is Everywhere ~ A Century of Women and Work
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY OPENING RECEPTION
Sunday, March 8, 2009
4:00pm
W2 Launch Pad Gallery
116 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

Enjoy this powerful national collection of visual art works by contemporary Canadian artists including BC's Tania Willard, produced by the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre.

The ‘A Woman's Place is Everywhere' exhibit is open to the public from March 8th through 29th.
Gallery open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.  W2 Launch Pad Gallery,
116 West Hastings Street, Vancouver.

Sponsored by BCGEU, HEU, CEP 467. Part of ‘Sistahood Celebration 2009'

Click here for link to BCGEU IWD poster