International Women鈥檚 Day is officially on March 8, but the Okanagan-Shuswap has started celebrating this week.
In Salmon Arm, recognition of the day started on Thursday, March 5, with a coffeehouse-style event. Organized by the SAFE Society and hosted by the Shuswap Pie Company, the intimate night was full of music, stories and good company.
SAFE Society鈥檚 executive director Jane Shirley said International Women鈥檚 Day is an important reminder that while we have come a long way in terms of gender equality, there鈥檚 still more work to do.
But it鈥檚 also a time to celebrate women who have made an impact.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a time to celebrate your aunt, your grandma, someone in your past, a friend who has mentored you through thick or thin,鈥� Shirley said.
鈥淲e encourage you to come forward and celebrate that person in your life, to say how meaningful they are, because there are lots of people who don鈥檛 get the recognition they need because they have so many things going on in their lives.鈥�
Dee Lewis spoke at the event and said the most important thing is to look for the good in other people, and to encourage that goodness.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to nurture that greatness because I think we鈥檝e all had someone in our lives that鈥檚 been profound and influential鈥�,鈥� she said.
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