There was standing room only during the New Frontier School Board’s second annual International Women’s Day event in Chateauguay on March 15.
Over 120 women and several men from NOVA, the Chateauguay Valley Career Education Centre (CVCEC), the Huntingdon Adult Education and Community Centre (HAECC), Howard S. Billings High School, and the NFSB board office took part in the empowering activity that featured networking opportunities and three exceptional women speakers.
Indigenous artist Owisoko Lahache spoke passionately about her art career and her work as a teacher in Kahnawake. She was followed by iron worker Konwawennenhawi Diabo, who talked candidly about her job as a journeyman rodbuster and the challenges associated with being a woman on construction sites. Finally, Ormstown-based actor, photographer, and activist Erika Rosenbaum spoke openly about her career, her family, and coming forward as one of the silence-breakers in the Harvey Weinstein case and being at the forefront of the #MeToo movement.
“We were very fortunate to have amazing speakers,” said Heidi Niven, a social work technician with the NFSB and member of the organizing committee for the Women’s Day event. “I hope that our students and staff walk away from the event feeling inspired and empowered to be anyone they choose to be,” she says. “I also hope they see that our local community is full of amazing women, doing difficult but rewarding work.”
Niven says the organizers were blown away by the response to the event and were especially pleased to see a significant number of men taking part. The hope is they can continue to build on this momentum for next year’s event.